How to perform and interpret an Exercise Test

Slide 1 : How to Perform and Interpret an Exercise Test V. Froelicher, MD Professor of Medicine Stanford University VA Palo Alto HCS

Slide 2 : Key Points of Exercise Testing Manual SBP measurement (not automated) most important for safety Adjust to clinical history (couch potatoes) No Age predicted Heart Rate Targets The BORG Scale of Perceived Exertion METs not Minutes Fit protocol to patient (RAMP) Avoid HV and cool down walk Use standard ECG analysis/ 3 minute recovery/ use scores Heart rate recovery Expired Gas Analysis?

Slide 3 : BORG SCALE

Slide 4 : Symptom-Sign Limited Testing Endpoints – When to stop! Dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain Systolic blood pressure drop ECG--ST changes, arrhythmias Physician Assessment Borg Scale (17 or greater)
Slide 5 : How to read an Exercise ECG Good skin prep PR isoelectric line Not one beat Three consistent complexes Averages can help Garbage in, garbage out Three minute recovery

Slide 6 : Types of Exercise Isometric (Static) weight-lifting pressure work for heart, limited cardiac output, proportional to effort Isotonic (Dynamic) walking, running, swimming, cycling Flow work for heart, proportional to external work Mixed
Slide 7 : Oxygen Consumption During Dynamic Exercise Testing There are Two Types to Consider: Myocardial (MO2) Internal, Cardiac Ventilatory (VO2) External, Total Body

Slide 8 : Myocardial (MO2) Coronary Flow x Coronary a - VO2 difference Wall Tension (Pressure x Volume, Contractility, Stroke Work, HR) Systolic Blood Pressure x HR Angina and ST Depression usually occurs at same Double Product in an individual ** Direct relationship to VO2 is altered by beta-blockers, training,...

Slide 9 : Problems with Age-Predicted Maximal Heart Rate Which Regression Formula? (2YY - .Y x Age) Big scatter around the regression line poor correlation [-0.4 to -0.6] One SD is plus/minus 12 bpm Confounded by Beta Blockers A percent value target will be maximal for some and sub-max for others Borg scale is better for evaluating Effort Do Not Use Target Heart Rate to Terminate the Test or as the Only Indicator of Effort or adequacy of test

Slide 10 : Myocardial (MO2) Systolic Blood Pressure x HR SBP should rise > 40 mmHg Drops are ominous (Exertional Hypotension) Diastolic BP should decline
Slide 11 : Ventilatory (VO2) Cardiac Output x a-VO2 Difference VE x (% Inspired Air Oxygen Content - Expired Air Oxygen Content) External Work Performed ****Direct relationship with Myocardial O2 demand and Work is altered by beta-blockers, training,...

Slide 12 : VO2 THE FICK EQUATION VO2 = C.O. x C(a-v)O2 C(a-v)O2 ~ k then, VO2 ~ C.O.

Slide 13 : What is a MET? Metabolic Equivalent Term 1 MET = "Basal" aerobic oxygen consumption to stay alive = 3.5 ml O2 /Kg/min Actually differs with thyroid status, post exercise, obesity, disease states But by convention just divide ml O2/Kg/min by 3.5
Slide 14 : Key MET Values (part 1) 1 MET = "Basal" = 3.5 ml O2 /Kg/min 2 METs = 2 mph on level 4 METs = 4 mph on level < 5METs = Poor prognosis if < 65; limit immediate post MI; cost of basic activities of daily living

Slide 15 : Key MET Values (part 2) 10 METs = As good a prognosis with medical therapy as CABS 13 METs = Excellent prognosis, regardless of other exercise responses 16 METs = Aerobic master athlete 20 METs = Aerobic athlete

Slide 16 : Calculation of METs on the Treadmill METs = Speed x [0.1 + (Grade x 1.8)] + 3.5 3.5 Calculated automatically by Device! Note: Speed in meters/minute conversion = MPH x 26.8 Grade expressed as a fraction

Slide 17 : METs---not Minutes (Report Exercise Capacity in METs) Can compare results from any mode or Testing Protocol Can Optimize Test by Individualizing for Patient Can adjust test to 8-10 minute duration (aerobic capacity--not endurance) Can use prognostic power of METs

Slide 18 : Estimated vs Measured METs All Clinical Applications based on Estimated Estimated Affected by: Habituation (Serial Testing) Holding on Deconditioning and Disease State Measured Requires a Mouthpiece and Delicate Equipment Measured More Accurate and Permits measurement of Gas Exchange Anaerobic Threshold and Other Mxments (VE/VCO2) Prognostic in CHF and Transplantation

Slide 19 : WORK TREADMILL WORK TIME RAMP TIME WORK

Slide 20 : Why Ramp? Started with Research for AT and ST/HR but clinicaly helpful Individualized test Using Prior Test, history or Questionnaire Linear increase in heart rate Improved prediction of METs Nine-minute duration for most patients Requires special Treadmill controller or manual control by operator

Slide 21 : Should Heart Rate Drop in Recovery be added to ET? Long known as a indicator of fitness: perhaps better for assessing physical activity than METs Recently found to be a predictor of prognosis after clinical treadmill testing Does not predict angiographic CAD Studies to date have used all-cause mortality and failed to censor

Slide 22 : Heart Rate Drop in Recovery Probably not more predictive than Duke Treadmill Score or METs Studies including censoring and CV mortality needed Should be calculated along with Scores as part of all treadmill tests
Slide 23 : Heart Rate Drop in Recovery vs METs 10 to 15% increase in survival per MET Can be increased by 25% by a training program What about Heart Rate Recovery???

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Slide 26 : Diagnosis vs Prognosis Maximal Heart Rate vs METs

Slide 27 : AHA/ACC Exercise Testing Guidelines: Recommendations for Exercise Testing Diagnosis CAD Prognosis with symptoms/CAD After MI Using Ventilatory Gas Analysis Special Groups

Slide 28 : AHA/ACC Exercise Testing Guidelines: Recommendations for Exercise Testing Special Groups: Pre- and Post-Revascularization Women Asymptomatic Pre-surgery Valvular Heart Disease Cardiac Rhythm Disorders

Slide 29 : The ACC/AHA Guidelines for the Diagnostic Use of the Standard Exercise Test Class I (Definitely appropriate) - Adult males or females (including RBBB or < 1mm resting ST depression) with an intermediate pre-test probability of coronary artery disease based on gender, age and symptoms (specific exceptions are noted under Class II and III below). Class IIa (Probably appropriate) - Patients with vasospastic angina.

Slide 30 : Pre Test Probability of Coronary Disease by Symptoms, Gender and Age

Slide 31 : Diagnostic Use, continued: Class IIb (Maybe appropriate) – Patients taking Digoxin with less than 1 mm resting ST depression. Patients with ECG criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy with less than 1 mm ST depression. Patients with a high pre-test probability of coronary artery disease by age, symptoms and gender. Patients with a low pre-test probability of CAD by age, symptoms and gender.

Slide 32 : Diagnostic Use, continued: Class III (Not appropriate) - 1. To use the ST segment response in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in patients who demonstrate the following baseline ECG abnormalities: pre-excitation (WPW) syndrome; electronically paced ventricular rhythm; more than one millimeter of resting ST depression; LBBB 2. To use the ST segment response in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in MI patients

Slide 33 : Comparison of Tests for Diagnosis of CAD

Slide 34 : Males Choose only one per group <40=low prob 40-60= intermediate probability >60=high probability

Slide 35 : Women Choose only one per group <37=low prob 37-57= intermediate probability >57=high probability

Slide 36 : The ACC/AHA Guidelines for the Prognostic Use of the Standard Exercise Test Indications for Exercise Testing to Assess Risk and prognosis in patients with symptoms or a prior history of coronary artery disease: Class I. Should be used: Patients undergoing initial evaluation with suspected or known CAD. Specific exceptions are noted below in Class IIb. Patients with suspected or known CAD previously evaluated with significant change in clinical status.
Slide 37 : Prognostic Use, continued: Class IIb. Maybe Appropriate for: Patients who demonstrate the following ECG abnormalities: Pre-excitation (WPW) syndrome; Electronically paced ventricular rhythm; More than one millimeter of resting ST depression; and LBBB. Patients with a stable clinical course who undergo periodic monitoring to guide management

Slide 38 : Prognostic Use, continued: Class IIa. Probably Appropriate: None Class III. Should not be used for prognostication: Patients with severe comorbidity likely to limit life and/or consideration for revascularization procedures

Slide 39 : Endpoints for Prediction of Prognosis Why is this even an issue?? Confusion All-cause certainly best for interventional studies CV mortality more appropriate outcome for CV tests

Slide 40 : DUKE Treadmill Score for Stable CAD METs - 5 X [mm E-I ST Depression] - 4 X [Treadmill Angina Index] ******Nomogram******* E-I = Exercise Induced

Slide 41 : Duke Treadmill Score (uneven lines, elderly?)

Slide 42 : “All-comers” prognostic score SCORE = (1=yes, 0=no) METs<5 + Age>65 + History of CHF + History of MI or Q wave a=0, b=1, c=2, d=more than 2

Slide 43 : But Can Physicians do as well as the Scores? 954 patients - clinical/TMT reports Sent to 44 expert cardiologists, 40 cardiologists and 30 internists Scores did better than all three but was most similar to the experts

Slide 44 : Key Points of Exercise Testing Manual SBP measurement (not automated) most important for safety Adjust to clinical history (couch potatoes) No Age predicted Heart Rate Targets The BORG Scale of Perceived Exertion METs not Minutes Fit protocol to patient (RAMP) Avoid HV and cool down walk Use standard ECG analysis/ 3 minute recovery/ use scores Heart rate recovery Expired Gas Analysis?

Slide 45 : What is the most important prognostic measurement from the exercise test? 1. BORG scale estimate 2. ST depression 3. Exercise time 4. Exercise capacity Question 1

Slide 46 : What is the most appropriate indicator of a maximal effort? 1. BORG scale 2. ST depression 3. Heart rate 4. Exercise capacity Question 2

Slide 47 : All references are available as pdf files on www.cardiology.org along with scores and sample report generator

Slide 48 : Thank you