Right Ventricular Function and Exercise Tolerance in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Introduction

Right ventricle (RV) dysfunction has a prevalence of 10% in anterior myocardial infarctions and up to 50% in inferior myocardial infarctions. It is responsible for cardiogenic shock secondary to an acute coronary syndrome in 5% of cases. In patients with myocardial infarction, RV dysfunction is an important prognostic factor of mortality, ventricular arrhythmias, mechanical complications, cardiogenic shock, stent thrombosis, and increased in-hospital and one-year mortality. ^–

Tajima et al. investigated RV function, its association with exercise tolerance, and the efficacy of phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with ischemic heart disease. RV dysfunction was significantly associated with reduced exercise tolerance by 9% before rehabilitation. However, CR was effective in these patients.

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