AUTHOR=Hautala Arto J., Kiviniemi Antti M., Karjalainen Jaana J., Piira Olli-Pekka , Lepojärvi Samuli , Mäkikallio Timo , Huikuri Heikki V., Tulppo Mikko P.

TITLE=Peak exercise capacity prediction from a submaximal exercise test in coronary artery disease patients

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2013

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2013.00243

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2013.00243

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>The purpose of this study was to determine whether a rating of perceived exertion scale (RPE) obtained during submaximal exercise could be used to predict peak exercise capacity (MET<sub>peak</sub>) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Angiographically documented CAD patients (<italic>n</italic> = 124, 87% on β blockade) completed a symptom-limited peak exercise test on a bicycle ergometer, reporting RPE values at every second load on a scale of 6–20. Regression analysis was used to develop equations for predicting MET<sub>peak</sub>. We found that submaximal METs at a workload of 60/75 W (for women and men, respectively) and the corresponding RPE (METs/RPE ratio) was the most powerful predictor of MET<sub>peak</sub> (<italic>r</italic> = 0.67, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001). The final model included the submaximal METs/RPE ratio, body mass index (BMI), sex, resting heart rate, smoking history, age, and use of a β blockade (<italic>r</italic> = 0.86, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001, SEE 0.98 METs). These data suggest that RPE at submaximal exercise intensity is related to MET<sub>peak</sub> in CAD patients. The model based on easily measured variables at rest and during “warm-up” exercise can reasonably predict absolute MET<sub>peak</sub> in patients with CAD.</p>