Segurança e exequibilidade do teste ergométrico em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca

Introducao. A avaliacao funcional nos pacientes com insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) pode ser feita pela classe funcional da New York Heart Association (NYHA), pelo teste da caminhada dos 6 minutos, pelo teste ergometrico (TE) ou pelo padrao ouro que e o teste cardiopulmonar. Objetivos. Objetivou-se avaliar a seguranca e exequibilidade do TE em pacientes com IC. Metodos. Foram avaliados 62 pacientes com IC que atingiram as classes funcionais II a IV da NYHA durante a evolucao da IC, com forma dilatada e disfuncao sistolica, em protocolo de rampa. Resultados. O consumo de oxigenio medio encontrado foi 23,2 ± 5,9 ml.Kg-1.min-1 para pacientes sem betabloqueador (BB) e de 23,7 ± 6,0 com BB (p=0,607). Houve queda na pressao arterial em 30,6% dos pacientes. Os demais apresentaram resposta pressorica normal ou elevacao. O indice cronotropico encontrado foi 77,5± 36,1% nos sem BB e 72,0 ± 31,9 naqueles com BB (p=0,555). Nao houve complicacao fatal ou evento cardiovascular maior. Conclusao. O TE foi seguro e de facil execucao em pacientes com IC. Safety and feasibility of treadmill test in heart failure patients Background. The functional evaluation of heart failure (HF) patients can be done by New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, six-minute walk test, and treadmill test (TT) or the cardiopulmonary exercise testing, which is the gold standard. Objective. The objective was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the TT in HF patients. Methods. Sixty-two HF patients with NYHA II to IV during the evolution of HF, with dilated cardiomyopathy and systolic dysfunction were evaluated on a ramp protocol. Results. The average myocardial oxygen consumption obtained was 23.2 ± 5.9 ml.Kg-1.min-1 for patients without beta-blocker (BB) and 23.7 ± 6.0 for those in use of BB (p=0.607). There was a decrease in blood pressure in 30.6%. The others presented a normal or elevated blood pressure response. The chronotropic index was 77.5 ± 36.1% for those without BB and 72.0 ± 31.9% for the patients using BB (p=0.555). There was no fatal complication or major cardiovascular event. Conclusion. The TT was safe and easily performed in patients with HF.