Prognostic Value of Repeated Peak Oxygen Uptake Measurements in LVAD Patients

BACKGROUND: Peak oxygen uptake (pVO2) predicts mortality in heart failure patients on left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. This follow-up of the PRO-VAD study examines the prognostic value of repeated pVO2 measurements during long-term follow-up.

METHODS: This multicenter follow-up study included patients from the original PRO-VAD cohort who performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) twice. Patients were categorized into four groups based on pVO2 levels at the two CPETs: Low at both tests, Low at the first and High at the second test, High at the first and Low at the second test, and High at both tests. Low pVO2 was defined as ≤14 mL/kg/min (or ≤12 mL/kg/min if beta-blocker tolerant), while values above these thresholds were considered High. Survival outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and cause-specific Cox analysis.

RESULTS: The study included 152 patients with repeated CPETs at approximately 6 and 12 months following LVAD implantation. The cohort showed slight but significant pVO2 improvement (median change: 0.4 mL/kg/min, P = 0.04). Persistently High pVO2 (76 patients) was associated with a fivefold reduction in mortality hazard (HR 0.20, P = 0.002), compared to persistently Low pVO2 (46 patients). Improvement from Low to High pVO2 (21 patients) displayed similar benefits (HR 0.21, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION: pVO2 measurements remain predictive of mortality upon reiteration in LVAD patients, with changes in pVO2 providing additional prognostic value in identifying patients with an excellent outcome on ongoing LVAD support and in identifying patients requiring further interventions.