Echocardiographic Assessment of Ventricular Function During Exercise in Adolescent Female Patients With Anorexia Nervosa

Background Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) have altered physiologic responses to exercise. The aim of this study was to investigate exercise capacity and ventricular function during exercise in adolescent patients with AN. Methods Sixty-six adolescent female patients with AN and 21 adolescent female control subjects who exercised to volitional fatigue on a semisupine ergometer, using an incremental step protocol of 20 W every 3 min, were retrospectively studied. Heart rate, blood pressure, and echocardiographic Doppler indices were measured at rest and during each stage of exercise. Fractional shortening, rate-corrected mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening, stress at peak systole, cardiac output, and cardiac index were calculated. Minute ventilation, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and respiratory exchange ratio were measured using open-circuit spirometry. Results Patients with AN had significantly lower body mass index (16.7 vs 19.7 kg/m2, P Conclusions Adolescent patients with AN have reduced exercise capacity and peak cardiovascular indices compared with control subjects but normal patterns of cardiovascular response during progressive exercise. Systolic ventricular function is maintained during exercise in adolescents with AN.