Monk-Hansen Tea, Dall Christian H, Christensen Stefan B, Snoer Martin, Gustafsson Finn, Rasmusen Hanne, Prescott Eva
Department of Cardiology, Bispebjerg University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark.
Scand Cardiovasc J. 2014 Apr;48(2):91-8. doi: 10.3109/14017431.2013.871058. Epub 2014 Jan 27.
This study investigates the effect of aerobic interval training on diastolic function at rest and during exercise in stable heart transplant (HTx) recipients.
Twenty-three stable HTx recipients (74% males, mean age 50 ± 14.9 years) were recruited to a training programme. Intervention was 8 weeks intensive training or control in a randomized controlled design.
At baseline, participants had normal or mild diastolic dysfunction at rest. During exercise, mean E/e' increased from 9.0 (± 2.8) to 12.8 (± 7.7) (p = 0.09), E/A increased from 2.1 (± 0.6) to 2.6 (± 0.7) (p = 0.02), and deceleration time decreased by over 50 ms, all markers of increased filling pressure. There were no correlations between diastolic function and VO 2 peak at baseline. After intervention VO 2 peak increased from 23.9 (± 4.5) to 28.3(± 6) ml/kg/min in the training group (difference between groups p = 0.0018). No consistent pattern of improvement in diastolic function at rest or during exercise was seen.
The study does not support a role of diastolic dysfunction in the limited exercise capacity of HTx recipients and suggests that in these patients peripheral factors are of greater importance.
