Influence of exertional oscillatory ventilation on exercise performance in heart failure

Background: Exertional oscillatory ventilation (EOV) in heart failure may potentiate the negative effects of low cardiac output and high ventilation on exercise performance. We hypothesized that the presence of EOV might, per se, influence exercise capacity as evaluated by maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. Methods and results: We identified 78 severe chronic heart failure patient pairs with and without EOV. Patients were matched for sex, age and peak oxygen consumption (VO2). Patients with EOV showed, for the same peak VO2, a lower workload (WL) at peak (ΔWatts=5.8±23.0, P=0.027), a less efficient ventilation (higher VE/VCO2 slope: 38.0±8.3 vs. 32.8±6.3, P