Small, unrepaired Ventricular Septal Defects reveal poor exercise capacity compared with healthy peers: a prospective, cohort study

• Published in: International journal of cardiology 2017-01, Vol.227, p.631-634
• Main Authors: Maagaard, Marie, Heiberg, Johan, Hjortdal, Vibeke E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acyanotic congenital; Adult; Cardiovascular; Cohort Studies; Exercise Test - methods; Exercise testing; Exercise Tolerance - physiology; Female; Grown-ups with congenital heart disease (GUCH); Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular - diagnostic imaging; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular - physiopathology; Humans; Long-term follow-up; Male; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Small ventricular septal defects
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.10.086

Abstract Background Small ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are considered to be without hemodynamic influence and most remain unrepaired. However, studies recently described late cardiac adverse consequences that could potentially affect functional capacity. Yet, this has never been assessed in adulthood. Therefore, the aim was to determine peak exercise capacity in adults with small VSDs compared with healthy, matched controls. Methods In a prospective, cohort study we included patients with unrepaired VSDs and healthy controls, (age 18 to 40 years). Functional capacity was determined through incremental bicycle tests and gas exchange was measured breath-by-breath with Jaeger MasterScreen CPX®. Primary endpoint was peak oxygen uptake, while secondary endpoints were anaerobic threshold and health-related quality-of-life. Results In total, 34 VSD patients (age 26.5 ± 6 years) and 28 controls (age 26.9 ± 5 years) were included. There were no differences between groups in demographic characteristics or habitual exercise levels. At peak exercise, patients reached lower peak oxygen uptake, 36.2 ± 9 ml/kg/min, compared with controls, 43.8 ± 6 ml/kg/min ( p = 0.002) along with lower maximal workload; patients 3.2 ± 1 watt/kg and controls 3.8 ± 1 watt/kg ( p = 0.001). Aerobic capacity was also poorer in patients, 24.5 ± 8 ml/kg/min compared with controls, 31.2 ± 7 ml/kg/min ( p = 0.005). Lastly, patients had lower health-related quality-of-life in terms of physical ( p = 0.017) and social functioning ( p = 0.003) compared with controls. In the patient group physical functioning was directly correlated to the impaired peak oxygen uptake ( r = 0.473, p = 0.005). Conclusion We demonstrated reduced subjective and objective functional capacity in small, unrepaired VSDs compared with controls. Furthermore, a correlation was seen between the impaired peak exercise capacity and lower self-estimated physical health.