TY - JOUR
T1 - Exertional dyspnea in heart failure
T2 - A symptom unrelated to pulmonary function at rest or during exercise
AU - Russell, S. D.
AU - McNeer, F. R.
AU - Higginbotham, M. B.
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - Background: Exertional dyspnea is a common symptom in patients with heart failure, and the mechanisms responsible for the symptom are unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify factors responsible for the symptom of exertional dyspnea in patients with heart failure. Methods: Resting pulmonary-function tests and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed in 71 patients with New York Heart Association functional class II- IV symptoms (mean ejection fraction 30.6%; mean age, 68 years). Results: The severity of dyspnea at peak exercise, which patients rated as 3 to 10 on a 1 to 10 severity scale, did not correlate with rest or exercise hemodynamic, spirometric, or metabolic variables, including peak oxygen uptake (VO2), minute ventilation (Ve), and respiratory rate, or with derived variables including Ve/VO2, Ve/VCO2, and the dyspnea index (Ve/maximum voluntary ventilation). Additionally, these variables did not differ between patients who reported limitation of exercise by dyspnea and those who were limited by fatigue. Conclusions: The symptom of exertional dyspnea in patients with heart failure is not determined by abnormalities in ventilatory function or demand.
AB - Background: Exertional dyspnea is a common symptom in patients with heart failure, and the mechanisms responsible for the symptom are unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify factors responsible for the symptom of exertional dyspnea in patients with heart failure. Methods: Resting pulmonary-function tests and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed in 71 patients with New York Heart Association functional class II- IV symptoms (mean ejection fraction 30.6%; mean age, 68 years). Results: The severity of dyspnea at peak exercise, which patients rated as 3 to 10 on a 1 to 10 severity scale, did not correlate with rest or exercise hemodynamic, spirometric, or metabolic variables, including peak oxygen uptake (VO2), minute ventilation (Ve), and respiratory rate, or with derived variables including Ve/VO2, Ve/VCO2, and the dyspnea index (Ve/maximum voluntary ventilation). Additionally, these variables did not differ between patients who reported limitation of exercise by dyspnea and those who were limited by fatigue. Conclusions: The symptom of exertional dyspnea in patients with heart failure is not determined by abnormalities in ventilatory function or demand.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0002-8703(98)70314-X
DO - 10.1016/S0002-8703(98)70314-X
M3 - Article
C2 - 9506324
AN - SCOPUS:0031917320
SN - 0002-8703
VL - 135
SP - 398
EP - 405
JO - American heart journal
JF - American heart journal
IS - 3
ER -