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Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Methodology for Assessing Exertion Intolerance in ME/CFS, 2018, Stevens et al

Discussion in 'ME/CFS research' started by Sly Saint, Aug 18, 2018.

  1. Sly Saint

    Sly Saint Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Provisionally accepted.

    Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Methodology for Assessing Exertion Intolerance in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    Staci Stevens1, Chris Snell1, Jared Stevens1, Betsy keller2 and [​IMG]J. Mark VanNess3*
    • 1Workwell Foundation, United States
    • 2Department of Exercise & Sport Sciences, Ithaca College, United States
    • 3Health and Exercise Science, University of the Pacific, United States
    https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2018.00242/abstract
     
    sea, Zombie Lurker, John Mac and 15 others like this.
  2. Snow Leopard

    Snow Leopard Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Not yet published. Curious to see how many studies were included - given there are several other studies with similar results that are not yet published as far as I know.
     
  3. Inara

    Inara Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Oh, I was waiting for this paper. I asked Workwell Foundation if they have some kind of manual for the 2-day-cpet, and they mentioned there shall be a publication, and I think this is it.
     
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  4. adambeyoncelowe

    adambeyoncelowe Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    This is great. So how do we understand our results? I'm not sure the exercise physiology testing centre knew that much. All I know is that my VO2 max is the same as a person with COPD or MS, and just over half that expected for my age, which is bad.
     
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  5. Webdog

    Webdog Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    I recently had a conversation with a family practice doctor (who has been in touch with Todd Davenport) about whether a CPET should be part of standard ME/CFS clinical care. His view was that it was not worth the risk to patients. I didn't disagree, except in cases where it was necessary to prove disability.
     
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  6. Keela Too

    Keela Too Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Not sure patients should be pressured into an assessment that could make them permanently worse, just to satisfy a disability assessment.

    I know I’d be too concerned about the harm this could cause me, to do it. :nailbiting:
     
    Mij, janice, Indigophoton and 10 others like this.
  7. Webdog

    Webdog Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Agreed. But patients should perhaps be given the option of a CPET test if it's required to prove disability.

    2-day CPETs are useful for researching PEM. But what is the benefit of a CPET in clinical care? Maybe to determine maximal heart rate? It's not clear that it's worth the risk for patients, and many (like you and me) would likely decline a CPET even if it were offered.
     
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  8. Pechius

    Pechius Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Can you share how your results changed between day 1 and 2? VO2, AT(anaerobic threshold)?
     
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  9. Pechius

    Pechius Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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  10. Inara

    Inara Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    @Pechius, thank you! Do you think the manuscript will change a lot?
     
  11. Pechius

    Pechius Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    I think not.
    Source
     
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  12. Sly Saint

    Sly Saint Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Pechius, JaimeS, Hutan and 5 others like this.
  13. Pechius

    Pechius Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Article has been published. PDF here
     
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  14. Pechius

    Pechius Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    It's a really nice overview, especially to hand to someone who doesn't know much about it, although I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't include a table or graph which would summasire the changes that are most common in all studies and most specific for ME/CFS and how big those changes can be. Seems like a no brainer to me. I imagine someone who's not very familiar with CPER would be left a bit confused as to what exactly they should look for.
     
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  15. Snow Leopard

    Snow Leopard Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    This manuscript is describing the practice protocol that they use and is not a systematic review of prior studies. The central replicated finding is a reduction of performance of patients at the ventilatory threshold on the second day. Other findings such as a reduction in VO2Max/VO2Peak on the second day have not been found in replication studies.
     
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  16. Milo

    Milo Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Because validation is a very good thing, and having objective measure of disability matters a lot in disability insurance.

    i totally understand the risks... until we have biomarkers and until we are established within mainstream medicine, at least some of us will have to prove disability through this mean.

    Edit to add: at least some of us are not even believed by our own doctor, so providing them with a comprehensive assessement of the post exertional response may provide proof that of biological basis of symptoms and illness. (And yes, we are still at this stage in 2018)
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2018
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  17. adambeyoncelowe

    adambeyoncelowe Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Yes, but how much of a change? Should HR increase or decrease at AT/VT? Where do mild/moderate/severe patients fall?
     
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  18. Snow Leopard

    Snow Leopard Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Good questions for which we would have to do more study to find out, though I think the latter (severe) is unethical to answer.
     
  19. Lucibee

    Lucibee Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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  20. Medfeb

    Medfeb Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    I appreciate the concern that this could exacerbate a patient's condition. BUt I've also seen the 2 day CPET be the deciding factor in a positive decision on social security disability benefits (and thus medicare health insurance) in the US. Each patient needs to be aware of the risk and make a decision on the risk versus the benefit.
     
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