Cardiac Output Response to Exercise in Chronic Cardiac Failure Patients: Role of Stroke Volume

The purpose of this study was to investigate the precise pattern of stroke volume (SV) response during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) compared with age-matched controls. Fourteen patients with CHF and 7 controls performed symptom-limited bicycle exercise testing with respiratory gas exchange measurement. Patients were classified into group A (n = 7) with peak VO2 ≥18.0 mL/kg/minute and group B (n = 7) with peak VO2 < 18.0 mL/kg/ minute. SV and cardiac output (CO) were continuously measured during exercise using a novel thoracic impedance method (Physioflow). CO and SV were lower in the group B patients than those in controls at peak exercise [CO: 11.3 ± 1.0 (SE) versus 15.6 ± 0.9 L/minute, P < 0.05, SV: 89 ± 6 versus 110 ± 6 mL, P < 0.05]. SV reached its peak levels during submaximal exercise and remained close to the peak value until peak exercise in 6 of 7 group B patients (86%). On the other hand, it progressively increased until peak exercise in 6 of 7 controls (86%) and 5 of 7 group A patients (71%). In all subjects, CO at peak exercise was more closely correlated with SV at peak exercise (r = 0.86, P < 0.001) than with peak heart rate (r = 0.69, P < 0.001). CHF patients with impaired exercise capacity had attenuated increment of CO during exercise, and SV reached its peak levels during submaximal exercise.