This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by HORNSTEN, T. R. Articles by BRUCE, R. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by HORNSTEN, T. R. Articles by BRUCE, R. A.

(Circulation. 1968;37:543.)
© 1968 American Heart Association, Inc.

---

Effects of Atrial Fibrillation on Exercise Performance in Patients with Cardiac Disease

TOM R. HORNSTEN M.D.¹ ROBERT A. BRUCE M.D.¹

¹ From the Department of Medicine (Cardiology), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Cardiac performance in 25 male and 40 female cardiac patients with atrial fibrillation was compared with that of age, sex, and function-matched controls with sinus rhythm. All had rheumatic valvular heart disease treated with digitalis. Multistage maximal exercise was tested on a motor-driven treadmill with increasing work loads every 3 minutes to the limits of fatigue.

Mean heart rates of patients with atrial fibrillation were greater at rest, at all levels of exercise, and immediately after it regardless of sex or anatomic lesion; however, recovery heart rate was significantly higher in the males than in the females with sinus rhythm.

As is true for normals, mean duration and intensity of exercise was greater in male than in female cardiac patients regardless of rhythm or anatomic lesion.

Key Words: Atrial transport function • Treadmill testing • Cardiovascular hemodynamics