Aerobic exercise capacity of healthy young men with the early repolarization phenomenon

Data on the performance of individuals with the early repolarization phenomenon (ERP) are contradictory. Aim of the study was to investigate the aerobic physical performance of individuals with ERP. Material and methods. 536 healthy men aged 18–45 years, who do not have contraindications to perform a load test according to physical, laboratory and instrumental examination (ECG, spirometry, echocardiography, clinical blood analysis), and who reached the VO 2 max during cardiopulmonary exercise testing were included in the study. We compared physical performance of groups formed on the basis of ECG data: the main group - persons with ERP (113 people) and the control group-persons without ERP (423 people). Results. In the group with ERP, the VO 2 max, cardiac output, oxygen pulse and stroke volume at peak load were lower than in the group without ERP, by 5.8 % (p=0.03), 9.2 % (p=0.05), 7.2 % (p=0.01) and 8.9 % (p=0.04). When compared to echocardiography data, the final systolic size of the left ventricle in the group with ERP was 12.6 % larger than in the group without ERP (p=0.03). Conclusion. In individuals with ERP, a decrease in cardiac output was detected, which may be associated with a relative deterioration in left ventricle systolic function and may affect the aerobic physical performance. The described differences were revealed only after removing the influence of anthropometric, spirometric and laboratory indicators.