British heart journal
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British heart journal · Sep 1993
Reduction of mismatch of global ventilation and perfusion on exercise is related to exercise capacity in chronic heart failure.
The inability to match lung perfusion to ventilation because of a reduced cardiac output on exercise contributes to reduced exercise capacity in chronic heart failure. ⋯ During exercise in patients with chronic heart failure, there is a reduction in the global V/Q mismatch index. A lower global V/Q mismatch index at peak exercise is associated with higher maximal ventilation. The reduction in global V/Q mismatch index on exercise correlates well with maximal exercise capacity. This may imply that the inability to perfuse adequately all regions of lung on exercise and match this to ventilation is a factor determining exercise capacity in chronic heart failure.