Relative efficacy of medical therapy and revascularization for improving exercise capacity in patients with chronic left ventricular dysfunction

Abstract

Background: In patients with left ventricular dysfunction one of the aims of therapy may be to improve functional capacity. This study compared the improvement of functional capacity in response to medical therapy with that caused by revascularization. Methods: Fifty-two patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction were divided into groups with ischemic cordiomyopathy undergoing revascularization (group A, n = 20) or incremental medical treatment (group B, n = 16) and a control group receiving maximal medical therapy at the start of the study (group C, n = 16). All patients underwent a baseline metabolic exercise test with evaluation of peak oxygen consumption and derived exercise capac..