Aerobic Capacity of Adults With Fontan Palliation: Disease-Specific Reference Values and Relationship to Outcomes | Circulation: Heart Failure
BACKGROUND: Patients with Fontan palliation have reduced aerobic capacity because of impaired cardiac, pulmonary, and skeletal muscle function. However, the assessment of aerobic capacity in this population still relies on comparisons with people without cardiovascular disease rather than comparison with the expected aerobic capacity of other Fontan patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the expected aerobic capacity of adults with Fontan palliation. METHODS: Adults with Fontan palliation who underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test at Mayo Clinic (2003–2023) were stratified into quartiles based on the predicted peak oxygen consumption (VO2). We assessed the correlates of predicted peak VO2 and the relationship between predicted peak VO2 quartiles and cardiovascular outcomes (death/transplant). RESULTS: Of 323 patients (age, 29±9 years; 177 [55%] men), the median peak VO2 was 19.1 (15.2–23.9) mL/kg per minute, and this corresponds to a predicted peak VO2 of 51% (range, 1
