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Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the aerobic capacity in SSc women without pulmonary involvement using an ergoespirometry treadmill test.
Method: Thirteen female consecutive patients without pulmonary and cardiac involvement (according to pulmonary function test parameters and echocardiography), and 13 healthy female sedentary controls matched for age, and body mass index (BMI) undertook a maximum treadmill exercise test (Bruce treadmill protocol) with the direct determination of the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Metabolic data were analyzed by metabolic analysis system (Aerosport-teem100) and anaerobic threshold and respiratory compensation point were determined by the method of ventilatory equivalents. The highest oxygen uptake was registered as VO2 max. Patients were also evaluated for percentage of predicted VO2 max and metabolic equivalent of oxygen consumption (MET) at maximal effort. Comparisons between groups were performed by Student’s T test.
Results: Patients and controls had a similar mean age (40.77 ± 14.03 vs. 41.62 ± 09.13 years, p= 0.8569), and BMI (25.54 ± 3.74 vs. 23.67 ± 3.77, p= 0.4899). The mean parameters of pulmonary function tests for SSc patients such as Forced Vital Capacity ( 92.15 ± 14.23% predicted) and Diffusion Lung Capacity of Carbon Monoxide ( 85.85 ± 5.81% predicted ) were within normal range. Moreover, all patients had normal echocardiogram. Remarkably, the VO2 max values of patients were significantly lower than control group (19.82 ± 4.6 vs. 23.72 ± 4.51 ml/Kg/min, p=0.0395). Supporting this finding a noticeable reduction in the percentage of predicted VO2 max (53.69 ± 10.21% vs. 61.79 ± 8.55%, p=0.0383) and in the maximal attained exercise intensity (5.66 ± 1.31 vs. 6.77 ± 1.29 MET, p=0.0395) was also observed in these patients. No complications were observed during the test and exercise was well tolerated by all patients.
Conclusion: Systemic Sclerosis patients without pulmonary impairment have reduced aerobic capacity. Abnormal vascular response to exercise may account for this finding since the vascular system is one of the major target organs in this pathologic condition.
Method: Thirteen female consecutive patients without pulmonary and cardiac involvement (according to pulmonary function test parameters and echocardiography), and 13 healthy female sedentary controls matched for age, and body mass index (BMI) undertook a maximum treadmill exercise test (Bruce treadmill protocol) with the direct determination of the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Metabolic data were analyzed by metabolic analysis system (Aerosport-teem100) and anaerobic threshold and respiratory compensation point were determined by the method of ventilatory equivalents. The highest oxygen uptake was registered as VO2 max. Patients were also evaluated for percentage of predicted VO2 max and metabolic equivalent of oxygen consumption (MET) at maximal effort. Comparisons between groups were performed by Student’s T test.
Results: Patients and controls had a similar mean age (40.77 ± 14.03 vs. 41.62 ± 09.13 years, p= 0.8569), and BMI (25.54 ± 3.74 vs. 23.67 ± 3.77, p= 0.4899). The mean parameters of pulmonary function tests for SSc patients such as Forced Vital Capacity ( 92.15 ± 14.23% predicted) and Diffusion Lung Capacity of Carbon Monoxide ( 85.85 ± 5.81% predicted ) were within normal range. Moreover, all patients had normal echocardiogram. Remarkably, the VO2 max values of patients were significantly lower than control group (19.82 ± 4.6 vs. 23.72 ± 4.51 ml/Kg/min, p=0.0395). Supporting this finding a noticeable reduction in the percentage of predicted VO2 max (53.69 ± 10.21% vs. 61.79 ± 8.55%, p=0.0383) and in the maximal attained exercise intensity (5.66 ± 1.31 vs. 6.77 ± 1.29 MET, p=0.0395) was also observed in these patients. No complications were observed during the test and exercise was well tolerated by all patients.
Conclusion: Systemic Sclerosis patients without pulmonary impairment have reduced aerobic capacity. Abnormal vascular response to exercise may account for this finding since the vascular system is one of the major target organs in this pathologic condition.
F.R. Lima, FAPESP#04/07487-3, 2 Research grants.