Right Ventricular Function, Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease and the Effect of a Home-Based Exercise Program

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Multiplane imaging of the RV Views acquired by electronic plane rotation from a single RV focused apical echocardiographic position: the RV focused apical four chamber view visualising the RV lateral wall (0° rotation), the coronary sinus view visualising the RV anterior wall (±+40° rotation), the aortic view visualising the RV inferior wall (±−40° rotation) and the coronal view (±−90° rotation) visualising the RV outflow tract and inferior wall of the RV. • Abbreviations: 4C = four chamber view, Ao = aortic view, CS = coronary sinus view, CV = coronal view, RV = right ventricle.

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  Fig. 2. Multiplane imaging of the RV free wall LS assessment Abbreviations: 4C = four chamber view, Ao = aortic view, avg = average, CS = coronary sinus view, LS = longitudinal strain, RV = right ventricle.

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  Fig. 3. Correlations between RV function, EC and QoL in ACHD Scatterplots with restricted cubic spline curves illustrating the relationship between the MWA of RV free-wall LS and (A) %ppVO2(Lowlands), (B) physical functioning, (C) general health perception and (D) VAS score. Correlation coefficients and p-values are shown within each panel. • Abbreviations: %ppVO2 = percent-predicted peak oxygen consumption, ACHD = adults with congenital heart disease, EC = exercise capacity, LS = longitudinal strain, MWA = multiwall average, QoL = quality of life, RV = right ventricle, VAS = visual analogue scale.

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  Fig. 4. Overview of the study protocol Abbreviations: RV = right ventricle.

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  Fig. 5. Effects of the exercise program on pVO2 (A), energy/fatigue (B) and VAS score (C) in ACHD: per-protocol analysis Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median (Q1-Q3). The mean/median values were only presented for patients for whom both baseline and follow-up values were available. • Abbreviations: ACHD = adults with congenital heart disease, EC = exercise capacity, pVO2 = peak oxygen consumption, QoL = quality of life, VAS = visual analogue scale.