Quantification of anaerobic threshold during dynamic exercise in chagasic cardiac patients using visual and computerized methods.

Author(s)

Julio César Crescencio

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2007-05-29

Examining board members

Lourenco Gallo Junior; Aparecida Maria Catai; Andre Schmidt; Antonio Carlos da Silva; Marcus Vinícius Simões

• Advisor: Lourenco Gallo Junior

Abstract

With the advance of digital computers it was possible to develop high quality equipments and specific software for the acquisition, processing and storage of a great number of cardio respiratory variables. In this context, exercise physiology has shown a substantial progress, particularly with the use of ergospirometric systems that allow a simultaneous recording of respiratory and metabolic variables during dynamic exercise. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of a special kind of mathematical models, the so called bisegmentar models, linear-linear (L-L) and linear-quadratic (L-Q), applied to the ventilatory variables during dynamic exercise for identification of the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) in chagasic patients. In this study 51 volunteers were included: 24 chagasic patients (mean ± age= 33.77 ± 7.86 years) and 27 healthy men (35.91 ± 9.84 years), paired for sex, age and aerobic capacity. The chagasic patients presented the undetermined and the cardiac form of the disease; in this last condition the patients did not show any increase of heart dimension on echocardiography. All subjects studied were submitted to two different types of exercise protocols, undertaken in cycle ergometer in seated position: 1- a continuous ramp type test; 2- a progressive step type test, interrupted in each exercise level for the return of variables to basal values. An electronic braked cycle ergometer (CORIVAL 400 Quinton) was used in both cases. A computerized ergospirometric system (MedGraphics CPX/D) was used to apply the exercise tests. This system allowed the recording and processing of all ventilatory variables for application of the mathematical models: oxygen uptake (VO2), CO2 production (VCO2), minute respiratory ventilation (VE), respiratory equivalents (VE/VCO2,VE/VO2), power (Watts), rotation speed, and others. The ramp was calculated considering sex, age, weight and aerobic capacity, evaluated on the basis of a questioner of physical activity. The VAT was measured by visual manner (mean values obtained from 3 different observers), and also by the automatic method supplied by the MedGraphics equipment (AuT), based on the VCO2-VO2 inclination changes of the straight lines, and the ones obtained by the bisegmentar methods adjusted to the response of VO2 related to time (L-L VCO2, L-Q VCO2) and of VCO2 in relation to VO2 (L-L VCO2/VO2, L-Q VCO2/VO2). The bisegmentar models were based on the measure of the square sum of residual values related to fitting of two functions, linear-linear and linear-quadratic applying the least square method. After a qualitative and quantitative analysis of data, it was possible to reach to the following conclusions: 1- all four bisegmentar models applied to ramp type tests could be used in 64% of cases (16 chagasics an 17 healthy), and the calculated VAT values were not statistically different from the ones obtained by VM and AuT methods ? also, the VAT values were not different comparing the two groups; 2- the AuT method could be used in all volunteers studied, including the chagasic (n=24) and the control (n=27) groups; 3- the intercepts and inclination coefficients that relate power and of VAT values obtained by all 6 methods were not statistically significant in both groups studied; 4- the inclination changes of linear fitting obtained from step tests were coincident with the VAT values calculated from ramp tests in a small percentage of cases, what makes this method questionable, at least in protocols with 6 minute duration; 4- all bisegmentar models and AuT method using the ramp protocols have shown an adequate tool to quantify the VAT; 6- the use of appropriate windows to analyze the data during ramp exercise protocols is of uppermost importance to achieve a good performance of the mathematical models and the automatic method for quantifying the VAT. (AU)