cardiopulmonary exercise testing

Introduction

Measures peak oxygen uptake.

Indications

• unexplained dyspnea
• symptoms disproportionate to measured pulmonary function abnormalities
• other exercise-related symptoms, such as exercise-induced bronchospasm
• evaluation of need for cardiac transplantation in patients with chronic heart failure

Clinical significance

• predicts short term (< 18 month) prognosis in patients with moderate to severe chronic heart failure
• peak oxygen uptake (VO2) of < 10-12 mL/kg/min is associated with 1 year survival of 60%

More general terms

• exercise stress testing
• pulmonary function test (PFT)