BACKGROUND: Noninvasive ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been used in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), although its effect on exercise tolerance in these patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of CPAP on exercise tolerance in outpatients with CHF. METHODS: Following a double-blind, randomized, crossover, and placebo-controlled protocol, 12 patients with CHF (8 male; 4 female; age 54 +/- 12 years; body mass index 27.3 +/- 1.8 kg/m2, New York Heart Association Class II, III) underwent CPAP via nasal mask for 30 minutes in a recumbent position. Mask pressure was 3 cmH2O for 10 minutes, followed by individual progression up to 4 to 6 cmH2O, whereas placebo was fixed 0 to 1 cmH2O. A 6-minute walk test was performed after placebo and CPAP. RESULTS: Continuous positive airway pressure decreased the resting heart rate (pre 80 +/- 17 bpm; post 71 +/- 15 bpm; p = 0.001) and mean arterial pressure (pre 103 +/- 14 mmHg; post 97 +/- 13 mmHg; p = 0.008). During exercise test, CPAP increased the distance covered (CPAP 538 +/- 78 m; placebo 479 +/- 83 m; p < 0.001) and the peak heart rate (CPAP 98 +/- 17; placebo 89 +/- 12 bpm; p = 0.049) but did not change the peak mean arterial pressure (p = 0.161). CONCLUSION: Noninvasive ventilation with CPAP increased exercise tolerance in patients with stable CHF. Future clinical trials should investigate whether this effect is associated with improved clinical outcome.
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