Background:

Exercise capacity of patients with advanced heart failure improves after heart transplantation (HTX). Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is recognized as the “gold standard” study for the evaluation of aerobic exercise capacity.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of CPET in HTX recipients.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was performed in patients over 18 years of age undergoing HTX from November 1, 2013 to June 30, 2019, and with a CPET within the first year after transplantation. Clinical and CPET variables were analyzed.

Results:

A total of 122 patients with mean age of 50.1 ± 11.8 years and 77.0% men were included in the study. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) was 23.3 ± 5.3 mL/min/kg and 45.9% of patients achieved the anaerobic threshold. In 68.0% and 28.7% of cases, the population presented normal oxygen pulse and oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) values, respectively. Mild, moderate, or severe reduced functional capacity was found in 46.7%, 23.0%, and 3.3% of patients, respectively. Oxygen uptake efficiency slope was low in 80.0%, 71.4% and 92.9% of patients with decreased functional capacity of cardiovascular, peripheral, and mixed origin, respectively.

Conclusion:

In this population of HTX recipients, a considerable proportion of subjects showed reduced functional capacity or abnormal OUES values. The evaluation of these patients through CPET could favor early referral to cardiovascular rehabilitation centers.