The Influence of Sex Differences on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Metrics Following Heart Transplant

Katelyn E. Uithoven, Joshua R. Smith, Jose R. Medina-Inojosa, Ray W. Squires, Erik H. Van Iterson, Thomas P. Olson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Previous work has shown sex-related differences in cardiopulmonary responses in patients with heart failure (HF); however, sex differences following heart transplant (HTx) have not been examined. Thus, we hypothesized women would demonstrate lower peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) but similar ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope) compared with men prior to HTx. Furthermore, we hypothesized that, following HTx, women would exhibit greater improvements in VO2peak and VE/VCO2 slope compared with men. Methods: HTx patients with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between 2007 and 2016 were included. Pre-HTx CPET occurred within 24 months pre-HTx with post-HTx CPET within 12 months following HTx. VO2peak was measured via standard protocol. VE/VCO2 slope was calculated using rest-peak ventilation (VE) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2). Results: Eighty-eight patients (Men [M]: n = 63, age: 55 ± 12 years; Women [W]: n = 25, age: 47 ± 11 years) were assessed. Pre-HTx VO2peak (M: 13.9 ± 5.0 vs W: 11.6 ± 3.9 mL/kg/min, P = 0.17) and VE/VCO2 slope (M: 42 ± 12 vs W: 46 ± 18, P = 0.53) were not different between sexes. Overall, VO2peak (Pre: 13.3 ± 4.8 vs Post: 18.4 ± 4.8 mL/kg/min, P < 0.01) and VE/VCO2 slope (Pre: 43 ± 14 vs Post: 37 ± 6, P = 0.02) improved following HTx. Post-VO2peak (M: 19.0 ± 4.8 vs W: 16.8 ± 4.5 mL/kg/min, P = 0.24) and VE/VCO2 slope (M: 37 ± 6 vs W: 37 ± 7, P = 0.99) and delta VO2peak (M: 5.0 ± 4.8 vs W: 5.3 ± 4.9 mL/kg/min, P = 0.85) and VE/VCO2 slope (M: –5 ± 11 vs W: –9 ± 17, P = 0.29) were not different between sexes. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that cardiopulmonary improvements following HTx patients occur for both sexes. Importantly, women show similar significant functional improvements following HTx compared with men.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)54-59
Number of pages6
JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology
Volume36
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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