Table 4 Absolute and relative contraindications for cardiopulmonary exercise testing

Absolute	Relative
Acute myocardial infarction (3–5 days)	Left main coronary stenosis or its equivalent
Unstable angina	Moderate stenotic valvular heart disease
Uncontrolled arrhythmias causing symptoms or haemodynamic compromise	Severe untreated arterial hypertension at rest or haemodynamic compromise (>200 mm Hg systolic, >120 mm Hg diastolic)
Syncope	Tachyarrhythmias or bradyarrhythmias
Active endocarditis	High-degree atrioventricular block
Acute myocarditis or pericarditis	Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Symptomatic severe aortic stenosis	Significant pulmonary hypertension
Uncontrolled heart failure	Advanced or complicated pregnancy
Acute pulmonary embolus or pulmonary infarction	Electrolyte abnormalities
Thrombosis of lower extremities	Orthopaedic impairment that compromises exercise performance
Suspected dissecting aneurysm
Uncontrolled asthma
Pulmonary oedema
Room air desaturation at rest ⩽85%*
Respiratory failure
Acute non-cardiopulmonary disorder that may affect exercise performance or be aggravated by exercise (ie, infection, renal failure, thyrotoxicosis)
Mental impairment leading to inability to cooperate