Role of diastolic function in preserved exercise capacity in patients with reduced ejection fractions

Affiliations

Aurora Cardiovascular Services

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Some patients with markedly reduced ejection fractions (EFs) (

METHODS: Sixty-five subjects with EFs < 35% who underwent exercise Doppler echocardiography and had no inducible ischemia were retrospectively examined. Forty-five subjects with normal EFs (>60%) and preserved exercise capacity were analyzed as a control group.

RESULTS: Sixteen of 65 patients with EFs < 35% had greater than predicted normal exercise capacity for their age and gender, and the remaining 49 patients had reduced exercise capacity. Patients with reduced EFs and preserved exercise capacity had E/e' ratios (mean, 10 ± 4) similar to those of control subjects (mean, 10 ± 3) and lower than those with reduced exercise tolerance (mean, 16 ± 8) (P < .01). In addition, they had better diastolic filling patterns and smaller left atrial sizes than patients with EFs < 35% and reduced exercise capacity. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that E/e' ratio was an independent predictor of preserved exercise capacity in patients with reduced EFs.

CONCLUSIONS: Relatively intact diastolic function contributes to preserved exercise capacity in patients with reduced EFs (<35%).

Document Type

Article

PubMed ID

26232892

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