TY - JOUR
T1 - Diltiazem and exercise performance in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation
AU - Atwood, J. E.
AU - Myers, J. N.
AU - Sullivan, M. J.
AU - Forbes, S. M.
AU - Pewen, W. F.
AU - Froelicher, V. F.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by the NCOA/Travelers Geriatric Fellowship Program for Medical Students (M.J.S.).
PY - 1988
Y1 - 1988
N2 - To evaluate the influence of calcium entry blockade (diltiazem 60 mg qid) on exercise capacity in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, nine men (mean age 65 years) with atrial fibrillation underwent maximal treadmill exercise on and off diltiazem therapy. Heart rate, blood pressure, and measured ventilatory parameters were assessed at a standard submaximal workload (3.0 mph/0% grade), the gas exchange anaerobic threshold (ATge), and maximal exercise. Significant reductions in heart rate at all stages of exercise were demonstrated: maximum heart rate decreased from 171±30 beats/min to 142±27 beats/min (17 percent, p<.01) and submaximal exercise heart rate decreased from 123±22 beats/min to 96±16 beats/min (22 percent, p<.01). However, there were no significant changes in blood pressure or gas exchange data, ie, oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, or respiratory exchange ratio at any of the exercise workloads. These data demonstrate that in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, diltiazem controls the ventricular rate response throughout exercise without attenuating blood pressure or exercise capacity.
AB - To evaluate the influence of calcium entry blockade (diltiazem 60 mg qid) on exercise capacity in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, nine men (mean age 65 years) with atrial fibrillation underwent maximal treadmill exercise on and off diltiazem therapy. Heart rate, blood pressure, and measured ventilatory parameters were assessed at a standard submaximal workload (3.0 mph/0% grade), the gas exchange anaerobic threshold (ATge), and maximal exercise. Significant reductions in heart rate at all stages of exercise were demonstrated: maximum heart rate decreased from 171±30 beats/min to 142±27 beats/min (17 percent, p<.01) and submaximal exercise heart rate decreased from 123±22 beats/min to 96±16 beats/min (22 percent, p<.01). However, there were no significant changes in blood pressure or gas exchange data, ie, oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, or respiratory exchange ratio at any of the exercise workloads. These data demonstrate that in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, diltiazem controls the ventricular rate response throughout exercise without attenuating blood pressure or exercise capacity.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0023848040&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1378/chest.93.1.20
DO - 10.1378/chest.93.1.20
M3 - Article
C2 - 3335153
AN - SCOPUS:0023848040
SN - 0012-3692
VL - 93
SP - 20
EP - 25
JO - Chest
JF - Chest
IS - 1
ER -