Key result
Exercise tests in patients with atrial fibrillation showed acceptable reproducibility only in those with fairly good functional capacity, while reproducibility was poor in patients with severely impaired heart function.
Why the study?
Are graded work tests and orthostatic tests reproducible in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Observational (n=15)
No
Are graded work tests and orthostatic tests reproducible in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Exercise testing in patients with atrial fibrillation has acceptable reproducibility only in those with fairly good functional capacity and should be evaluated with caution.
Caution advised interpreting exercise tests in AF with severe impairment; leaves open prospective reliability validation.
Fifteen patients with atrial fibrillation, mostly due to advanced valvular heart disease, were examined by a graded work test and an orthostatic test on two occasions, the reason being, to study the reproducibility of the test in such patients. In 6 of the 7 patients with the highest working capacity the agreement between the two tests was good regarding heart rates at maximum work load. In the 8 patients with a low working capacity the results of the two tests differed widely. In the orthostatic test the difference in increase of the heart rate after standing was less than 5 beats/min in 3 patients in one of the tests, and in 2 patients in both tests. The exercise test in patients with atrial fibrillation must be evaluated with caution and has an acceptable reproducibility only in patients with fairly good functional capacity.
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Åberg et al. (1977) conducted an observational in Atrial fibrillation (n=15). Graded exercise and orthostatic tests vs. Repeated test (test-retest) was evaluated on Reproducibility of working capacity and heart rate at maximum work load. Exercise tests in patients with atrial fibrillation showed acceptable reproducibility only in those with fairly good functional capacity, while reproducibility was poor in patients with severely impaired heart function.
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