The Influence of Cardiac Pacemaker Programming Modes on Exercise Capacity

The cardiac pacing mode influences the atrioventricular synchronicity and the response of the heart rate to physical exercise. The aim of this study was to compare the influence of the most common pacemaker programming modes on exercise capacity. Fifty-two pacemaker-wearing patients were clinically evaluated and submitted to an exercise stress test. Symptoms of heart failure were more frequently met in the single-chamber pacemaker group compared to the dual-chamber group. The parameters recorded during the exercise stress test were significantly better with the rate responsive function (RRF) activated. The effort time was higher by an average of 2.1 minutes and the exercise capacity was higher by 0.92 metabolic equivalents. Dual-chamber pacing is superior to single-chamber (ventricular) pacing and the activation of the RRF in single-chamber pacemakers has similar impact on exercise capacity as the preservation of atrioventricular synchronicity by dual-chamber pacemakers.