Cardiac role in exercise limitation in asthmatic subjects with special reference to disease severity

We wanted to assess limitations in cardiorespiratory fitness of asthmatic subjects, acclimatized to 1,300 m altitude and in a clinically stable state. We therefore studied 16 young asthmatic and 8 normal young subjects during an incremental bicycle exercise test. The asthmatics were divided into two groups, according to the Aas classification: a moderate asthma group (degree 2 and 3, no pulmonary impairment during symptom-free intervals), and a severe asthma group (degree 4 and 5, with persistent airway obstruction). The results showed that cardiorespiratory fitness is limited in severe asthmatic subjects acclimatized to an altitude of 1,300 m, due to decreased cardiac output and stroke volume. At submaximal exercise, the lower stroke volume is compensated by an increased arteriovenous oxygen content difference, but this compensation no longer exists at maximal exercise, which explains the lower maximal oxygen uptake in the severe asthma group. The hypothesis that the high tidal volume in the severe asthma group could lead to a decrease in left ventricular performance is considered. In conclusion, with respect to cardiorespiratory response to exercise, asthmatics should not be considered as a homogeneous group. Furthermore, relationship between ventilatory requirement and its consequences upon cardiac stroke volume provides a strong argument for the physical rehabilitation of asthmatics. Indeed, aerobic training can decrease the ventilation level for a given workload, and thus reduce inappropriate adaptations to exercise.

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