Article

Resting heart rate is a surrogate marker associated with achieved
exercise capacity, which has been observed in patients with sinus rhythm. The aim
of this study was to examine and compare the relationships between resting heart
rate and peak oxygen consumption in atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm. METHODS
AND RESULTS: A total of 2160 consecutive patients undergoing cardiopulmonary
exercise testing in our single-hospital cohort were divided into two groups
according to rhythm status: an atrial fibrillation group (N = 320) and a sinus
rhythm group (N = 1840).
In the total cohort and sinus rhythm group, resting
heart rate was negatively correlated with percentage of predicted peak oxygen
consumption (Ptrend < 0.0001); in atrial fibrillation patients, this correlation
was apparently positive (Ptrend = 0.032). Multivariate analysis of the total
cohort showed a significant interaction between resting heart rate and rhythm
status for peak oxygen consumption after adjustments for age, sex, ejection
fraction, structural heart diseases and heart rate-lowering drugs. In the sinus
rhythm group, resting heart rate was an independent, negative contributing factor
for peak oxygen consumption, even after the adjustments for patient background.
However, in the atrial fibrillation group, resting heart rate was a weak positive
or non-independent contributing factor for peak oxygen consumption after the same
adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of resting heart rate on exercise capacity
differed completely between atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm, suggesting that
heart rate control may need to be managed differently for atrial fibrillation and
sinus rhythm, in light of exercise capacity that is related to quality of life
and prognosis.
CI - (c) The European Society of Cardiology 2016.

Langue : ANGLAIS