Purpose: It has been suggested that an intermittent work exercise test (IWET) is as efficient but better tolerated than continuous exercise for rehabilitation. Although systemic and pulmonary cardiovascular adjustments have been investigated for continuous exercise, it has not been done for IWET with exercise bouts near maximal work rate.
Methods: In seven healthy subjects, the pulmonary hemodynamics have been studied by the aid of heart catheterization during a strenuous 30-min bicycle IWET where a 4-min work set at the first ventilatory threshold (VT1) alternated with a 1-min work set at the second ventilatory threshold (VT2).
Results: During the IWET, cardiac output increased then remained stable with decreasing stroke volume and increasing heart rate, which became near maximal at the end of the test. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased from rest to the fifth minute of exercise and decreased significantly thereafter (P<0.01). An identical evolution was observed for mean systemic arterial pressure (SAP).
Conclusion: Pulmonary hemodynamics adapt well in healthy subjects during a strenuous IWET despite the performance of exercise bouts of near maximal intensity.