On the Reproducibility of Exercise Tests in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Fifteen patients with atrial fibrillation, mostly due to advanced valvular heart disease, were examined by a graded work test and an orthostatic test on two occasions, the reason being, to study the reproducibility of the test in such patients. In 6 of the 7 patients with the highest working capacity the agreement between the two tests was good regarding heart rates at maximum work load. In the 8 patients with a low working capacity the results of the two tests differed widely. In the orthostatic test the difference in increase of the heart rate after standing was less than 5 beats/min in 3 patients in one of the tests, and in 2 patients in both tests. The exercise test in patients with atrial fibrillation must be evaluated with caution and has an acceptable reproducibility only in patients with fairly good functional capacity.