Estimation of exercise capacity from oxygen consumption in the recovery phase of submaximal exercise.

We analyzed the transient response of oxygen consumption (VO2) after the sudden termination of exercise. The study population consisted of 20 male athletes (age 13 to 15.9 years) and 87 male patients, 59 of whom (age 4.8 to 17.8 years) were considered to be normal subjects, and 28 of whom (age 6 to 14.8 years) had restricted physical activity because of underlying heart diseases (restricted group). The exercise tests were performed according to Bruce's protocol and terminated at signs of exhaustion. As soon as exercise ceased, the examinee sat on a chair and took rested completely. VO2 was measured every 30 seconds throughout the test. We characterized the rate of the initial decay of the VO2 transient as the ratio of the 30 second VO2 right after the exercise to that at the end of the exercise (Irv). This index did not differ significantly among the groups. On the other hand, Exc, the Irv normalized by the end-exercise VO2, was a sensitive index for separating the restricted group from the control and athlete groups. Should the Exc remain sensitive enough to quantify exercise capacity regardless of the intensity of the exercise imposed, even the submaximal exercise test should enable us to safely evaluate the exercise capacity of patients with impaired cardiac function.