Search

Objective Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is assumed to influence the circadian blood pressure (BP) fluctuation, particularly causing nocturnal hypertension and changing the dipping pattern of nocturnal BP. This study aimed to clarify the triggers of the non-dipper pattern in nocturnal BP in Japanese patients with severe OSA (the apnea-hypopnea index ≥30/h). Methods Of 541 patients with OSA diagnosed using polysomnography (PSG) and ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), 163 patients

The incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality rates are high among patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been reported to increase left ventricular mass (LVM) and cause LVH. The prevalence of hypertension, a major cause of increased LVM, is high in OSA; however, it is still unknown whether OSA is an independent factor that increases LVM in addition to triggering LVH. This study investigated out-of-office blood pressure (BP) via ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in patients with OSA diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG) and sought to determine the effects of OSA and hypertension on LVM. A total of 432 patients with OSA underwent ABPM and echocardiography. These patients were stratified into four groups according to their left ventricular mass index (LVMI) quartiles, and the component factors influencing LVMI, such as patient background, sleep data and all-day BP data, were analyzed. This study included 356 men and 76 women. The mean age was 54.6±13.2 years, the mean body mass index was 26.7±4.6 kg m−2 and the mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 37.9±22.5. Multivariate analysis indicated that antihypertensive agent use (β=0.143, P=0.002), an AHI ⩾15/h (β=0.100, P=0.045) and 24-h systolic BP (β=0.252, P

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) is characterized as a metabolic disorder syndrome that is upstream of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (DM). This study investigated exercise training effects on the exercise tolerance and heart rate dynamics in patients with IR or pancreatic β-cell dysfunction.MethodsSeventy patients (mean age, 60.1 years) with myocardial infarction (MI) participating in a phase II cardiac rehabilitation program were studied. Patients diagnosed with DM were excluded. Homeostasis model-assessment indices were used to divide patients into three groups – A: IR; B: normal; and C: β-cell dysfunction.A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) was performed and peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2) was measured. After baseline testing, subjects participated in a supervised, combined aerobic and resistance exercise program.ResultsPeak V˙O2 at baseline was comparable among the three groups, and it improved after training in all groups (p

Little is known about the differences in the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) status in older patients and their relationship to accelerometer-derived measures of physical activity (PA) levels. We determined both differences in daily measured PA based on the GNRI and related cut-off values for PA in elderly cardiac inpatients. We divided 235 consecutive elderly cardiac inpatients (mean age 73.6 years, men 70.6 %) into four groups by age and GNRI: older-high group, 65–74 years with high GNRI (≥92 points) (n = 111); older-low group, low GNRI (

Background This study aimed to investigate and compare prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in Japanese patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) versus those with HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). Methods This study consecutively included 101 Japanese patients (77 males) with de novo CHF. Echocardiography was performed twice, on admission and at discharge. All patients underwent portable overnight polygraphy within one week before discharge. The patients were stratified into two groups based on LVEF on admission, HFrEF (R group; LVEF n =82) or HFpEF (P group; LVEF≧50%, n =19); the prevalence of SDB and sleep study data were assessed. Results When patients with the apnea hypopnea index ≥15 were defined as having SDB, 50% of the study patients had SDB (OSA, 10%; CSA, 39%; MSA, 1%). No significant differences in the prevalence of SDB or sleep data as well as RVSP, E/e′ or plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were found between the two groups. Conclusions SDB was identified in 50% of de novo Japanese HF patients. When E/e′, RVSP and plasma BNP did not significantly differ between the two groups, the prevalence of SDB was similar regardless of LVEF.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment in patients with OSA and hypertension reduces blood pressure (BP). Oral appliance (OA) therapy is nowadays prescribed for patients with mild to moderate OSA. This study aimed to clarify the effect of OA therapy on BP reduction in Japanese patients with mild to moderate OSA.Polysomnography was employed to detect sleep-disordered breathing. Totally, 237 patients without cardiac and/or cerebrovascular diseases and those with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5/h-30/h were enrolled. Office BP change after receiving 8-12 weeks of OA therapy was assessed and the factors related to the degree of BP reduction were analyzed.The study patients consisted of 188 men and 49 women, the mean age was 54.7 ± 13.2 years old, and the body mass index (BMI) was 24.6 ± 3.4 kg/m(2). The antihypertensive effect of OA therapy resulted in systolic BP (SBP) -2.4 ± 14.8 (p = 0.078) and diastolic BP (DBP) -2.0 ± 11.7 mm Hg (p = 0.045) in all patients. SBP before OA therapy played a significant role in the degree of SBP reduction (β = -0.597, p0.001), whereas DBP before OA therapy was a significant factor of the degree of DBP reduction (β = -0.522, p0.001).A certain time period of OA therapy effected BP reduction in mild to moderate OSA patients without cardiac and/or cerebrovascular diseases. Its antihypertensive effect was greater in OSA patients whose BP was higher before receiving OA therapy.

PURPOSE: Exercise capacity of fewer than 5 metabolic equivalents (METs) has been associated with high risk of death and poor physical functioning in male patients with heart failure (HF). Therefore, we aimed to determine upper and lower extremity muscle strength levels required to attain an exercise capacity of 5 or more METs in male outpatients with HF. METHODS: We enrolled 148 male HF patients (age 60.1 +/- 1.0 years). Peak oxygen uptake (peak o2) was assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX). After CPX, we further divided the patients into groups according to exercise capacity: 5 or more METs (group A, n = 85) and fewer than 5 METs (group B, n = 63). Handgrip strength and knee extensor and flexor muscle strengths were assessed as indices of upper and lower extremity muscle strength, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to select cutoff values for upper and lower extremity muscle strength resulting in an exercise capacity of 5 or more METs in these patients. RESULTS: Exercise capacity of 5 or more METs in male HF patients was equivalent to approximately 35.2 kgf of handgrip strength and 1.70 Nm/kg of knee extensor and 0.90 Nm/kg of knee flexor muscle strengths. CONCLUSIONS: These upper and lower extremity muscle strength values may be useful target goals for improvement of exercise capacity, risk management, and activities of daily living in male HF patients.

To determine self-reported sleep quality-related differences in physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and target values of PA for high-quality sleep in chronic heart failure (CHF) outpatients, 149 CHF outpatients (mean age 58 years) were divided into two groups by sleep-quality level determined via self-reported questionnaire: shallow sleep (SS) group (n = 77) and deep sleep (DS) group (n = 72). Steps were assessed by electronic pedometer, HRQOL was assessed with the Short Form 36 (SF-36) survey, and data were compared between groups. PA resulting in high-quality sleep was determined by receiver-operating characteristics curves. All SF-36 subscale scores except that of bodily pain were significantly decreased in the SS versus DS group. A cutoff value of 5723.6 steps/day and 156.4 Kcal/day for 1 week were determined as target values for PA. Sleep quality may affect PA and HRQOL, and attaining target values of PA may improve sleep quality and HRQOL of CHF outpatients. Patents relevant to heart failure are also discussed in this article.

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) predicts mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, a weak correlation was found between LVEF and peak oxygen uptake ( $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2} $$ ) in CHF patients. Global longitudinal strain measured by two-dimensional (2D) strain is regarded as a more useful predictor of cardiac events than LVEF. We investigated whether 2D strain obtained at rest could predict peak $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2} $$ in patients with CHF. Fifty-one patients (mean age of 54.0 ± 12.0 years, 14 females, LVEF 46.0 ± 15.0%) with stable CHF underwent resting echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Leg muscle strength was measured for the evaluation of peripheral factors. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) in the apical 4-, 3-, and 2-chamber views and global circumferential strain (GCS) in the parasternal mid short-axis view were measured. In all patients, peak $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2} $$ correlated with leg muscle strength (r = 0.55, p

Aims Exercise may dramatically change the extent of functional mitral regurgitation (MR) and left ventricular (LV) geometry in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). We hypothesized that dynamic changes in MR and LV geometry would affect exercise capacity. Methods and results This study included 30 CHF patients with functional MR who underwent symptom-limited bicycle exercise stress echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing for quantitative assessment of MR (effective regurgitant orifice; ERO), and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). LV sphericity index was obtained from real-time three-dimensional echocardiograms. The patients were stratified into exercised-induced MR (EMR; n = 10, an increase in ERO by ≥13 mm2) or non-EMR (NEMR; n = 20, an increase in ERO by

SummaryBackground and purposeAmbulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) provides an accurate assessment of blood pressure (BP) and shows non-dipper BP pattern in many sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) patients with hypertension (HTN); however, little information is available on the relationship between the severity of SAS and circadian BP changes in SAS patients without HTN. This study investigated whether SAS patients without HTN would have different BP courses in the severity of SAS.Methods and subjectsSeventy-four consecutive outpatients without HTN [systolic BP (BPs) at clinic

No previous studies have fully investigated the exercise training effect on the skeletal muscle strength and volume to improve the exercise capacity in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). The present study was performed based on a hypothesis that the relationship between exercise capacity, skeletal muscle strength and volume might be changed by the amount of skeletal muscle volume in MI patients up to 3 months after the onset.Seventy patients with MI underwent symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing using a treadmill. The lower limb muscle volume (MV) was evaluated according to electrical impedance analysis and the maximal knee extension strength (Peak torque: PT) was measured by a Biodex. All patients participated in 12-week exercise training program. The subjects were divided into 2 groups on the basis of MV: Group H, MV==22 kg; Group L, MV22 kg. Delta values were calculated as follows: the value at 3 months minus the value at 1 month.A positive and significant correlation was observed between the delta PT and delta peak VO(2) (r=0.50, p0.005) only in the L group. No significant correlation was observed between the delta peak VO(2) and the delta lower limb MV or between the delta lower limb MV and the delta PT in the 2 groups.Cardiac rehabilitation program combined with resistance and aerobic training improved exercise capacity and increased not the skeletal muscle volume but the skeletal muscle strength in patients with MI in their recovery phase. It was presumed that the improvement of exercise capacity was determined by the skeletal muscle strength not by the muscle volume especially in MI patients with low muscle volume.

Indices of exercise capacity such as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and muscle strength are important in association with reduced mortality. The present study compared differences in VO2peak and muscle strength indices (grip strength and knee extensor and flexor muscle strength) with disease severity and investigated the relation of these variables in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients.The study comprised 102 patients with stable CHF (93 men, age 61.4 +/- 10.2 yrs) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)40% by echocardiography. We used New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class to index disease severity. VO2peak, grip strength, knee extensor, and flexor muscle strength were determined. Patients were divided into three groups by NYHA class: class I (n = 39), class II (n = 49), and class III (n = 14).Age, sex, and LVEF did not differ according to NYHA class. VO2peak and all muscle strength indices decreased with increases in NYHA class (P0.05). VO2peak correlated positively with all muscle strengths (P0.05). Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that grip and knee extensor strength were important in predicting VO2peak.Exercise capacity and disease severity in CHF patients may be influenced not only by lower-limb but also upper-limb muscle strength.

Previous studies have reported that skeletal muscle strength is closely related to exercise capacity in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). However, none of the previous studies have fully investigated the correlation between exercise capacity and the skeletal muscle volume (MV). Seventy patients with MI underwent symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing using a treadmill. The MV was evaluated by electrical impedance analysis and the maximal knee extension strength (Peak torque: PT) was measured by a Biodex. The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to the MV (group L, MV22 kg; group H, MVor = 22 kg). The PT was positively and significantly correlated with the peak V(.)O(2) in both the L and H groups (r = 0.70 versus r = 0.71). The MV of the lower limbs was positively correlated with the peak V(.)O(2) in the L group (r = 0.57), but not in the H group. The lower limb MV was positively and significantly correlated with PT in the L group (r = 0.48), but not in the H group. The exercise capacity of patients with MI is thought to depend on both the strength and volume of the skeletal muscle. In MI patients with high muscle volume, exercise capacity was determined by skeletal muscle strength alone.

Background The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve (SN and PN) dysfunction on the heart rate (HR) response to exercise and the exercise capacity of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods and Results Fifty-two male patients who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) 1 month after onset of AMI were divided into 2 groups: (DM (+) group, n=20; DM (-) group, n=32). HR, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), and plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels were measured during CPX. The high-frequency power (HF) was analyzed by HR variability. The ΔHR/log ΔNE obtained from changes of HR and NE from rest to peak exercise and HR change from baseline to the minimum HF (ΔHRHF) were calculated as parameters of HR response derived from SN and PN activities, respectively. ΔHR, VO2peak, ΔHR/log ΔNE, and ΔHRHF were significantly lower in the DM (+) group than in the DM (-) group, and both of them showed positive correlations with VO2peak. Conclusion An inadequate HR response to exercise is a major factor causing a decline of exercise capacity, which is derived from both of SN and PN dysfunction, in AMI patients with DM. (Circ J 2006; 70: 1017 - 1025)

The purpose of the present study was to compare differences in physiological outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in relation to degree of illness in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and to compare HRQOL in CHF patients with that of a normal Japanese population. One hundred and twenty-five patients with stable CHF (93 men, 32 women, mean age 63.3 ± 12.4 years) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 40% were enrolled in the present study. We used New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class as an index of degree of illness. In 64 of the 125 patients, physiological outcome measures included peak oxygen uptake (peak O2) and E/CO2 slope. HRQOL was assessed with the medical outcome study short form-36 (SF-36) Japanese version. In addition, SF-36 scores of CHF patients were compared against Japanese standard values. Age and LVEF did not differ according to NYHA functional class. The eight SF-36 subscale scores and peak O2 decreased with increases in the NYHA functional classes, whereas E/CO2 slope increased with increases in NYHA functional class (p

A double product break point (DPBP) occurs simultaneously with both ventilatory threshold (VT) and lactate threshold (LT) in normal subjects. We sought to determine whether a DPBP also occurs in cardiac patients and to investigate correlations between DPBP, VT and LT (study 1). We also evaluated a non-invasive DPBP measurement system that determined blood pressure automatically by the cuff method (study 2). Study 1 comprised 15 patients [8 men and 7 women, mean (SD) age 47.7 (11.1) years] who performed cardiopulmonary exercise tests on a cycle ergometer. The double product was defined as the product of heart rate and direct systolic blood pressure. Arterial blood samples were obtained for measurement of lactate, pyruvate, pH, and norepinephrine levels. VT was determined by gas analysis, and LT was determined as the lactate/pyruvate ratio. DPBPs were detected in all 15 patients. Double product slopes above the DPBP were significantly greater than those below the DPBP (286.2 vs 98.5/W, P

The present study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the extent of impaired chronotropic response and cardiac output during exercise, and exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure. The subjects consisted of 24 patients (mean 60.1 +/- 14.0 years) who had mild chronotropic incompetence. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed in all patients, and heart rate (HR), anaerobic threshold (AT), maximum oxygen uptake (peak VO2), slope of the regression line relating the ventilatory equivalent to carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2 slope), and exercise time were measured. Cardiac output (CO) was measured by a thoracic bioimpedance method and cardiac index (CI) was calculated. Plasma norepinephrine (NE) was measured at rest and immediately after the exercise test. The changes in HR, NE, and CI from the resting state to immediately after exercise were calculated as deltaHR, deltaNE, and deltaCI, respectively. The deltaNE was converted to a logarithmic scale and deltaHR/log deltaNE was used as a parameter of HR response to sympathetic nerve stimulation. The results were as follows: HR and NE in the resting state had no correlation with AT and with peak VO2. DeltaHR/log deltaNE correlated positively with both AT and peak VO2, and negatively with the VE/CO2 slope. DeltaHR/log deltaNE correlated positively with peak CI, %deltaCI, and deltaCI/exercise time. The data suggest that one of the mechanisms of low exercise tolerance in chronic heart failure patients was due to an inadequate increase in CO response against exercise caused by an impaired HR response to increased NE.

Little is known about differences in the risk of poor nutritional status as assessed by the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) in relation to physical performance in elderly female cardiac inpatients. The present study aimed to determine both differences in physical performance based on the GNRI and physical performance cut-off values according to the GNRI in elderly female cardiac inpatients. We enrolled 105 consecutive female Japanese inpatients aged ≥65 years (mean age, 74.6 years) with cardiac disease in this cross-sectional study. We divided the patients into two groups according to GNRI: high-GNRI group (≥92 points) (n = 71) and low-GNRI group (

A 61-year-old female, with a history of uterine and cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy and 2 years of postoperative chemotherapy, presented to the emergency department with dyspnea on exertion. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a large pericardial effusion and a sacciform aneurysm of the ascending aorta. The patient subsequently underwent emergency pericardiocentesis with drainage of approximately 330 ml of a bloody and turbid effusion. Cultures from the effusion yielded group B streptococcus. Multiple organ failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome occurred in the acute phase, but gradually improved with continuous antibiotic therapy. On the 194th hospital day, in situ reconstruction of the ascending aorta was successfully performed using a synthetic graft. Although rarely reported, both purulent bacterial pericarditis and mycotic aneurysm can be life-threatening.

The present study investigated the serial changes in serum magnesium (Mg) and erythrocyte concentration of Mg in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the relationship between these changes and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 1 month after the onset of infarction. The study group comprised 26 patients with AMI (mean age, 57.9+/-8.9 years). Serum Mg and erythrocyte Mg were measured on hospital days 1, 2, 4, 7 and 21. The change in erythrocyte Mg during the acute phase was calculated as a ratio: [(erythrocyte Mg at day 2)-(erythrocyte Mg at day 1)]/(erythrocyte Mg at day 1). The change in serum Mg was calculated similarly. The following results were obtained. (1) Serum Mg tended to increase from the onset of myocardial infarction (day 1: 1.86+/-0.19, day 2: 1.93+/-0.22, day 4: 2.17+/-0.23; day 7: 2.25+/-0.20; day 21: 2.12+/-0.15 mg/dl). (2) Erythrocyte Mg on day 2 and day 4 showed a significant decrease compared with day 1 (day 1: 2.45+/-0.40, day 2: 2.09+/-0.41, day 4: 2.07+/-0.37, day 7: 2.22+/-0.33, day 7: 2.34+/-0.28 mg/dl per 400x10(4)/mm3 cells). (3) A significant positive correlation was observed between the change in serum Mg and LVEF (r=0.55, p

Recent observations have shown that plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) correlate with cardiac function or prognosis in heart failure patients. However, relatively little is known about changes in their plasma concentration during commonly occurring physiological states such as fatigue. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the physiological changes of plasma ANP and BNP concentrations using a chronic sleep-deprivation model. Bicycle ergometer cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed in 10 healthy volunteers (mean age: 22.7 years). Blood samples for measuring ANP and BNP were drawn during the resting state and immediately after each exercise test. Cardiac output (CO) was measured during the exercise test by the impedance method. The study conditions were designed as follows: (A) a day following a period of normal sleep (control state) and (B) a day preceded by 1 month during which sleep lasted

We have previously reported that chronic sleep deprivation causes a deficiency of intracellular magnesium (Mg) and decreased exercise tolerance. The aim of this study was to clarify whether oral administration of Mg could be effective in restoring the exercise tolerance that is decreased by chronic sleep deprivation. A bicycle ergometer cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed by 16 healthy volunteers (mean age 21.9 years). They were divided into 2 groups: 8 received doses of 100 mg of Mg orally per day for 1 month (Mg group) and the remaining 8 received no Mg and served as the control group. The study conditions were designed as follows: (1) the usual state (good sleep); and (2) the sleep-deprived state (sleeping time up to 60% less than the usual state for 1 month). The ratio of intracellular Mg content of the sleep-deprived state to the usual sleep state was significantly higher in the Mg group (p

a Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan b Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan c Department of Physical Therapy, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, Japan d Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan e Division of Cardiology, St. Marianna University Toyoko Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan f Department of Cardiology, St. Marianna University Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan g Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA h Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan i Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan

The following three case reports present the effects of 6-month continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on blood pressure (BP) in severe obstructive sleep apnea patients with resistant hypertension. Case 1 A 58-year-old woman exhibited a decreased 24-hour BP and changes in the nocturnal BP dipping pattern from non-dipper to dipper. Case 2 A 64-year-old man showed no improvements in nocturnal BP. Case 3 A 78-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy exhibited changes in the nocturnal BP dipping pattern from non-dipper to dipper. These results suggest that 6-month CPAP therapy improves the nocturnal BP dipping status in some patients with obstructive sleep apnea and resistant hypertension.

Poor mental health (MH) is common in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. No studies have reported a relation between MH status and objectively measured physical activity (PA) in CHF patients. The study aim was to determine self-reported MH-related differences associated with PA and target values of PA for improved MH in CHF outpatients.We divided 243 CHF outpatients (mean age 57.1 years) into two groups according to MH assessed by Short Form-36 score: high-MH (≥68 points) group (n = 148) and poor-MH (68 points) group (n = 95). Average step count (steps) and energy expenditure on PA (EE) (kcal) per day for 1 week of PA were assessed by an accelerometer and compared between groups. PA resulting in high MH was determined by the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.PA correlated positively with MH in all patients (steps: r = 0.46, p 0.001; EE: r = 0.43, p 0.001). After adjusting for patient characteristics, steps and EE were significantly lower in the poor-MH versus high-MH group (5020.1 ± 280.7 versus 7174.1 ± 221.5 steps, p 0.001; 133.9 ± 10.8 versus 215.9 ± 8.4 kcal, p 0.001). Cut-off values of 5590.8 steps and 141.1 kcal were determined as PA target values associated with improved MH.Poor MH status may reduce PA. Attaining PA target values may improve MH status of CHF outpatients.

The goal of the present study was to determine knee extensor muscle strength (KEMS) and degree of renal dysfunction associated with an exercise capacity of ≥5 metabolic equivalents (METs) in male chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this cross-sectional study of 75 male CHF patients with CKD (65.3 ± 11.6 years), we measured clinical characteristics, peak $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2} $$ , estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and KEMS. Patients were divided into two groups by exercise capacity: ≥5 METs group (n = 41) and

The purpose of this study was to determine both an association between mortality and physical activity (PA) objectively measured by accelerometer and cutoff values for PA in Japanese outpatients with heart failure (HF). This prospective observational study comprised 170 HF outpatients (mean age, 65.2 years; 77% men). Peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) and the relation between ventilation and carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO 2 slope) as indices of exercise capacity were measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing with a cycle ergometer. PA was assessed by accelerometer-measured average step count (steps) per day for 1 week. Study endpoint was cardiovascular-related death. Over an average follow-up of 1,377.1 (median, 1,335) days, 31 cardiovascular-related deaths occurred. Patients were then divided into survivor (n = 139) and nonsurvivor (n = 31) groups. Brain natriuretic peptide level was significantly different between groups. Peak VO 2 and steps were also significantly lower and VE/VCO 2 slope higher in the nonsurvivors versus survivors. Univariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed brain natriuretic peptide, peak VO 2 , VE/VCO 2 slope, and steps to be significant prognostic indicators of survival. Multivariate analysis showed PA of ≤4,889.4 steps/day to be a strong and independent predictor of prognosis (hazard ratio: 2.28, 95% confidence interval: 1.31–6.30; p = 0.008). Kaplan-Meier curves after log-rank test showed significant prognostic difference between PA of ≤4,889.4 and >4,889.4 steps/day in the 2 groups (log-rank: 12.19; p = 0.0005). In conclusion, step count as objectively measured by accelerometer may be a prognostic indicator of mortality in Japanese outpatients with HF.

The effect of body position on cardiopulmonary response was assessed by the following protocols: 1) Cardiopulmonary exercise testing with a bicycle ergometer (20 W/min) was performed on nine healthy men (mean age; 19.9 years) in a sitting and a supine position. Oxygen uptake, heart rate and blood pressure were measured during the test. Noradrenaline and Angiotensin II were analyzed at rest and after exercise. 2) Single-level exercise testing at 100 W was performed. The cardiac index was computed from the cardiac output, which was measured using the dye-dilution technique at rest and during exercise. The results were as follows: 1) Anaerobic threshold was lower in the supine than in the sitting. 2) Noradrenaline and Angiotensin II were slightly lower in the supine than in the sitting. 3) The cardiac index at rest was slightly greater in the supine, and that during 100 W exercise was the same in both positions. It is concluded that the blood flow to active muscle during 100 W exercise is lower in the supine than in the sitting. The etiology of lower anaerobic threshold in the supine is thought to be due to lowered blood flow to active muscle.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) often develop dyspnea and exercise intolerance. Diastolic dysfunction may contribute to exercise intolerance in these patients. This study aimed to clarify our hypothesis as to whether diastolic function rather than systolic function would be associated with exercise intolerance in HCM using two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography during exercise. Thirty-three HCM patients (mean age 59.3 ± 15.7 years) underwent 2D speckle tracking echocardiography at rest and during submaximal semi-supine bicycle exercise. Global longitudinal strain (LS), LS rate during systole (LSRs), early diastole (LSRe), and late diastole (LSRa) were measured. The symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed using a cycle ergometer for measuring the peak oxygen consumption (peak $$ \dot{V}_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ ). In the multivariate linear regression analysis, peak $$ \dot{V}_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ did not associate with strain or strain rate at rest. However, peak $$ \dot{V}_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ correlated with LS (β = −0.403, p = 0.007), LSRe (β = 6.041, p = 0.001), and LSRa (β = 5.117, p = 0.021) during exercise after adjustment for age, gender, and heart rate. The first quartile peak $$ \dot{V}_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ (14.2 mL/min/kg) was assessed to predict exercise intolerance. The C-statistic of delta LSRe was 0.74, which was relatively greater than that of delta LS (0.70) and delta LSRa (0.58), indicating that early diastolic function rather than systolic and late diastolic function affects exercise intolerance. LSRe during exercise is closely associated with the peak $$ \dot{V}_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ . Early diastolic function during exercise is an important determinant of exercise capacity in patients with HCM.

Patients with exercise capacity of5 metabolic equivalents (METs) are considered to have a high risk of death. The aim of this study was to determine age-related differences in physical activity associated with an exercise capacity of ≥5 METs in chronic heart failure (CHF) outpatients.We enrolled 157 stable CHF patients (79.6% men, age 60.3 ± 11.5 years). Patients were divided into two age-based groups (middle-aged,65 years, n = 97) and (older-aged, ≥65 years, n = 60). Peak oxygen uptake (peak (V)O(2)) was assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. We further divided patients into groups according to exercise capacity: ≥5 METs and5 METs. Physical activity was assessed by measuring the average number of steps/day for 1 week with an electronic pedometer.Receiver-operating characteristic curves were used to select cutoff values for steps associated with an exercise capacity of ≥5 METs in the middle- and older-aged patients. Cutoff values of 6045 steps in the middle-aged and 6070 steps in the older-aged patients were determined.Both middle- and older-aged CHF patients with exercise capacity of ≥5 METs completed approximately 6000 steps/day. This could become a target amount for minimal physical activity that could contribute to increased exercise capacity in CHF patients.• Middle-aged and older-aged chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with a measured exercise capacity of ≥5 METs completed approximately 6000 steps/day as measured by electronic pedometer. • This amount of steps could become a target amount for minimal physical activity that could contribute to increased exercise capacity in CHF patients.

Izawa KP, Watanabe S, Hiraki K, Morio Y, Kasahara Y, Takeichi N, Oka K, Osada N, Omiya K. Determination of the effectiveness of accelerometer use in the promotion of physical activity in cardiac patients: a randomized controlled trial. Objective To investigate the effect of the self-monitoring of physical activity by hospitalized cardiac patients attending phase I cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting University hospital CR program. Participants CR patients (N=126) with a mean age of 59.1 years. Interventions Patients were randomly assigned to the self-monitoring group (group A, n=63) or the control group (group B, n=63). Along with CR, group A patients performed self-monitoring of their physical activity at the beginning of a phase I CR program (acute in-hospital phase for inpatients) and ending just before they began a phase II CR program (postdischarge recovery phase for outpatients). Main Outcome Measures Physical activity (averages of daily number of steps taken and daily energy expenditure for 1wk) as measured by accelerometer was assessed in both groups at baseline (t1) and before the beginning of phase II CR (t2). Results Although there were no significant differences in physical activity values between groups A and B at t1, values of group A at t2 were significantly higher than those of group B (8609.6 vs 5512.9 steps, P P Conclusions Self-monitoring of patient physical activity from phase I CR might effectively increase the physical activity level in preparation for entering a phase II CR program. Results of the present study could contribute to the development of new strategies for the promotion of physical activity in cardiac patients.

To examine differences in objective and subjective outcomes in outpatients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performed for acute myocardial infarction versus cardiac surgery (CS) following a phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Longitudinal observational study of 437 consecutive cardiac outpatients after 8 weeks of phase II CR. Patients were divided into the PCI group (n = 281) and CS group (n = 156). Handgrip and knee extensor muscle strength, peak oxygen uptake (VO2), upper- and lower-body self-efficacy for physical activity (SEPA), and physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores as assessed by Short Form-36 were measured at 1 and 3 months after PCI or CS. All outcomes increased significantly between months 1 and 3 in both groups. However, increases were greater in the CS versus PCI group in handgrip strength (+12.3 % vs. +8.1%, P > 0.01), knee extensor muscle strength (+19.3% vs. +17.5%, P = 0.008), peak VO2 (+20.9% vs. +16.9%, P > 0.01), upper-body SEPA (+27.7% vs. +9.2%, P = 0.001), and PCS score (+6.5% vs. +4.1%, P = 0.001). Although this relatively short-term phase II CR increased all outcomes for both groups, outcomes showed the recovery process was different between the PCI and CS groups, slightly favoring CS patients. Furthermore, patents in the field of CR are presented.

To predict exercise tolerance in the chronic phase of myocardial infarction (MI), cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed using a ramp treadmill protocol in 25 patients at 1 and 3 months after the onset of MI. Oxygen uptake, heart rate and O2 pulse were estimated at rest, during a warm-up period, and at the levels of anaerobic threshold (AT), respiratory compensation (RC) and peak exercise. Results were as follows: 1) AT and peak oxygen uptake at 3 months after the onset of MI were 14.1 +/- 2.8 and 21.8 +/- 5.2 ml/min/Kg, respectively. 2) The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to peak oxygen uptake at 3 months: one showing peak oxygen uptake > 22 ml/min/Kg and the other < 22 ml/min/Kg. The former group (n = 13) was referred to as the good tolerance group, and the latter group (n = 12) was referred to as the poor tolerance group. Oxygen uptake at AT, RC and peak exercise was lower in the poor tolerance group than in the good tolerance group (11.2 vs 14.7, 15.1 vs 20.4, 17.1 vs 23.4 ml/min/Kg, respectively). 3) The increases in oxygen uptake from AT to RC and from AT to peak exercise were less in the poor tolerance group than in the good tolerance group. 4) O2 pulse at rest, warm-up, AT, RC and peak exercise were also lower in the poor tolerance group.2+ tolerance in the chronic phase of MI.

heart failure patients Kazuhiro P. Izawa ⁎, Satoshi Watanabe , Shinobu Tochimoto , Koichiro Oka , Yuhei Otobe , Shinji Nemoto , Yasuyuki Hirano , Naohiko Osada , Kazuto Omiya , Peter H. Brubaker , Hiroyuki Shimizu g a Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University 7-10-2 Tomogaoka, Suma-ku, Kobe 654-0142, Japan b Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan c Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan d Department of Physical Therapy, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, Japan e Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan f Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA g Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common disease in patients with sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), which is considered to be responsible for secondary and nocturnal hypertension. In this study, we assessed blood pressure (BP) changes in SAS patients with CKD. Of 460 Japanese outpatients with suspected SAS who underwent ambulatory BP monitoring within 3 months of overnight polysomnography, 198 patients (172 males and 26 females) who were not receiving treatment with antihypertensives or nitroglycerin were enrolled. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated, and the patients were stratified into the high (H; eGFR≥60 ml min⁻¹ per 1.73 m²) or the low (L; eGFR60 ml min⁻¹ per 1.73 m²) group. The patients in the L group were significantly older than those in the H group (P0.001), and body mass index was significantly smaller in the L group than in the H group (P=0.025). The rate of patients treated with statin (P=0.030) and the levels of both triglyceride (P=0.006) and creatinine (P0.001) differed significantly between the two groups. The sleep data, 24-h BP, awake BP and morning BP showed no significant differences between the two groups. However, sleep systolic and diastolic BPs were significantly higher in the L group (122.5±16.7 mm Hg and 81.1±12.2 mm Hg, respectively) than in the H group (117.1±11.8 mm Hg, P=0.033; and 76.1±9.5 mm Hg, P=0.012, respectively). SAS patients with CKD had elevated sleep BP. This result suggests that appropriate treatments for both SAS and CKD prevent sleep BP elevation, which is considered a risk factor for the onset risk of a cardiovascular event.

Objective: To examine differences in physiologic and psychosocial outcomes between age groups after an exercise-based supervised-recovery phase II cardiac rehabilitation outpatient program. Design: This is a longitudinal observational study. The study assessed 442 consecutive cardiac patients. Patients were divided into the middle-aged group (

Aims Left ventricular (LV) shape and LV dyssynchrony are two cofactors associated with functional mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with heart failure. Both can be accurately examined by real-time threedimensional echocardiography (3DE). We examined the relationship between dynamic MR and exerciseinduced changes in LV shape and synchronicity using 3DE. Methods and results Fifty patients with systolic LV dysfunction underwent 2D and 3D quantitative assessment of LV function, shape, and synchronicity at rest and during symptom-limited exercise test. According to the magnitude of change in MR, patients were divided into EMR group (15 patients, 30%), if the degree of MR increased during test, and NEMR group. During exercise, the changes in LV volumes and ejection fraction were similar in both groups, whereas changes in mitral valvular deformation parameters, in LV sphericity index, and in the extent of LV dyssynchrony were more pronounced in the EMR group. At rest, only the 3D sphericity index could distinguish the two groups. By stepwise multiple regression model, dynamic changes in the systolic dyssynchrony index, sphericity index, and coaptation distance were associated with dynamic MR (r 2 ¼ 0.45, P ¼ 0.012). Conclusion Dynamic MR during exercise is related to the 3D changes in LV shape and in LV synchronicity.

Background: The aim of the current study was to determine if the slowed exercise oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics, which is developed by myocardial ischemia, would be accompanied by delayed recovery VO2 kinetics in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods and Results: Thirty-seven patients with significant ST depression during treadmill exercise underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing with cycle ergometer. Measurements performed are the ratios of change in increase in oxygen (O2) uptake relative to increase in work rate (ΔVO2/ΔWR) across anaerobic threshold (AT) and 1 mm ST depression point (ST-dep), the time constants of VO2 during recovery (T1/2 VO2), stress radio-isotope scintigraphy and coronary angiography. Patients were divided into CAD positive (CAD+) and CAD negative (CAD-) groups, based on coronary angiography. In CAD+, ΔVO2/ΔWR decreased above AT and ST-dep, in contrast to CAD- patients. The T1/2 VO2 in CAD+ (103.1 ±13.0 s) was greater than that of CAD- (76.5 ±8.7 s) and showed negative correlations to the ratios of ΔVO2/ΔWR across AT and ST-dep. These parameters improved in the patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery. Conclusions: Exercise and recovery VO2 kinetics were slowed when myocardial ischemia was provoked by exercise. Measurement of exercise and recovery VO2 kinetics improve the accuracy of the exercise electrocardiogram diagnosis of CAD. (Circ J 2009; 73: 1864-1870)

The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of impaired exercise tolerance in chronic sleep-restricted conditions by investigating variables related to heart-rate (HR) response to sympathetic nervous stimulation. Sixteen healthy men (mean age 21.5 years) were tested in a control state, acute sleep-loss state, and chronic sleeprestricted state. Participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing in each state. Their norepinephrine (NE) concentration was measured before and immediately after exercise. Intracellular magnesium (Mg) concentration was measured in a resting state. Exercise duration was shorter and the ratio of HR response to the percentage increase in NE was higher in the chronic sleep-restricted state than in the control state. Intracellular Mg gradually decreased from control to chronic sleep restriction. There was a negative correlation between peak exercise duration and the ratios of HR response to the rate of increase in NE. Intracellular Mg was positively correlated with the ratios of HR response to the increase in NE both in control and in acute sleep loss. The authors conclude that the impaired exercise tolerance in a chronic sleep-restricted state is caused by hypersensitivity of the HR response to sympathetic nervous stimulation, which showed a compensation for decreased intracellular Mg concentration.

Whether upper-extremity and lower-extremity muscle strength can predict a prognosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) patients is unclear. This study evaluated the impact of muscle strength on long-term mortality in patients with CHF.Prospective observational study of male Japanese CHF patients.Clinical characteristics (age, body mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction, heart failure etiology, and medications) were obtained from hospital records of 148 male outpatients with stable CHF. Brain natriuretic peptide was determined as an index of disease severity. Peak oxygen uptake ((Equation is included in full-text article.)), handgrip, and knee extensor muscle strength were also determined.After 1331.9+/-700.3 days of follow-up, 13 cardiovascular-related deaths occurred, and the patients were divided into two groups: survival (n=135) and nonsurvival (n=13). No significant differences were found between the groups in clinical characteristics, brain natriuretic peptide levels, and knee extensor muscle strength. Peak(Equation is included in full-text article.)(P=0.011) and handgrip strength (P=0.008) were significantly lower in the nonsurvival versus survival group. Left ventricular ejection fraction, peak(Equation is included in full-text article.), and handgrip strength were found by univariate Cox proportional hazards analysis to be significant prognostic indexes of survival. Multivariate analysis, however, revealed handgrip strength to be an independent predictor of prognosis. A handgrip strength cutoff value of 32.2 kgf was determined by the analysis of receiver-operating characteristics and was assessed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves after log-rank test showed significant prognostic difference between the two groups (P=0.008).Handgrip strength may be useful for forecasting prognosis in patients with CHF.