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Long-term follow-up of patients undergoing standardized bicycle exercise stress testing : new recommendations for grading of exercise capacity are clinically relevant

Lindow, Thomas LU ; Brudin, Lars ; Elmberg, Viktor LU orcid and Ekström, Magnus LU orcid (2020) In Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging 40(2). p.83-90
Abstract

Introduction: A new grading of exercise capacity during bicycle stress testing has been proposed in Sweden based on the new reference material (‘the Kalmar material’), which has not been validated. We aimed to examine the prognostic information of the new grading of exercise capacity during exercise stress testing. 

Methods: Data on all bicycle exercise tests performed at the Department of Clinical Physiology in Kalmar between May 2005 and October 2016 were cross-linked with the Causes of Death Register (until 30 April 2019) and the National Patient Register (until 12 December 2017). Exercise capacity was graded based on predicted exercise capacity: ≥120% (good), 75 to <120% (normal), 70 to <75% (mildly reduced), 50 to... (More)

Introduction: A new grading of exercise capacity during bicycle stress testing has been proposed in Sweden based on the new reference material (‘the Kalmar material’), which has not been validated. We aimed to examine the prognostic information of the new grading of exercise capacity during exercise stress testing. 

Methods: Data on all bicycle exercise tests performed at the Department of Clinical Physiology in Kalmar between May 2005 and October 2016 were cross-linked with the Causes of Death Register (until 30 April 2019) and the National Patient Register (until 12 December 2017). Exercise capacity was graded based on predicted exercise capacity: ≥120% (good), 75 to <120% (normal), 70 to <75% (mildly reduced), 50 to <70% (moderately reduced) and <50% (severely reduced). Associations with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and heart failure were analysed using Cox regression. 

Results: A total of 13 887 patients were followed a median of 7·7 years (interquartile range 5·0–10·8); 1809 patients died (546 from cardiovascular disease). Compared to normal exercise capacity, reduction of exercise capacity was strongly associated with increased all-cause mortality [(hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval): mild (3·0; 2·6–3·5); moderate (4·4; 3·9–4·9); and severe reduction (8·5; 7·2–10·0)]. Reduced exercise capacity was also associated with increased risks of cardiovascular hospitalization and mortality. 

Conclusion: Reduced exercise capacity is associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, as well as increased risk of future IHD and heart failure diagnosis and hospitalization. In patients with reduced exercise capacity, mortality is progressively increased with worsening grade of exercise capacity.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, prognosis, reference intervals of exercise capacity
in
Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging
volume
40
issue
2
pages
8 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85075727802
  • pmid:31697026
ISSN
1475-0961
DOI
10.1111/cpf.12606
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
df566139-5448-4b79-84df-97f7a043cd27
date added to LUP
2019-12-16 15:44:35
date last changed
2024-06-27 10:08:55
@article{df566139-5448-4b79-84df-97f7a043cd27,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: A new grading of exercise capacity during bicycle stress testing has been proposed in Sweden based on the new reference material (‘the Kalmar material’), which has not been validated. We aimed to examine the prognostic information of the new grading of exercise capacity during exercise stress testing. </p><p>Methods: Data on all bicycle exercise tests performed at the Department of Clinical Physiology in Kalmar between May 2005 and October 2016 were cross-linked with the Causes of Death Register (until 30 April 2019) and the National Patient Register (until 12 December 2017). Exercise capacity was graded based on predicted exercise capacity: ≥120% (good), 75 to &lt;120% (normal), 70 to &lt;75% (mildly reduced), 50 to &lt;70% (moderately reduced) and &lt;50% (severely reduced). Associations with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and heart failure were analysed using Cox regression. </p><p>Results: A total of 13 887 patients were followed a median of 7·7 years (interquartile range 5·0–10·8); 1809 patients died (546 from cardiovascular disease). Compared to normal exercise capacity, reduction of exercise capacity was strongly associated with increased all-cause mortality [(hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval): mild (3·0; 2·6–3·5); moderate (4·4; 3·9–4·9); and severe reduction (8·5; 7·2–10·0)]. Reduced exercise capacity was also associated with increased risks of cardiovascular hospitalization and mortality. </p><p>Conclusion: Reduced exercise capacity is associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, as well as increased risk of future IHD and heart failure diagnosis and hospitalization. In patients with reduced exercise capacity, mortality is progressively increased with worsening grade of exercise capacity.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lindow, Thomas and Brudin, Lars and Elmberg, Viktor and Ekström, Magnus}},
  issn         = {{1475-0961}},
  keywords     = {{all-cause mortality; cardiovascular mortality; prognosis; reference intervals of exercise capacity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{83--90}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging}},
  title        = {{Long-term follow-up of patients undergoing standardized bicycle exercise stress testing : new recommendations for grading of exercise capacity are clinically relevant}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cpf.12606}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/cpf.12606}},
  volume       = {{40}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}