Abstract 4124293: Exercise Capacity in Patients with Fontan Physiology

Introduction/Background: In the absence of a sub-pulmonary ventricle in the Fontan circulation, augmentation of pulmonary blood flow and filling of the systemic ventricle during exercise are limited. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a reliable method for evaluation of aerobic capacity, gas exchange, and other physiologic parameters used for risk stratification in this population. Despite the ubiquitous use of CPET, reference ranges for patients with Fontan physiology are limited. The purpose of this study is to describe exercise characteristics and their relationship with different characteristics of Fontan physiology, imaging, and hemodynamics. Methods/Approach: In this retrospective cohort study, CPET results were reviewed for adult Fontan patients at the University of Washington between May 2021 and February 2024. Demographics, comorbidities, medications, type of Fontan conduit, imaging characteristics, hemodynamics, and exercise characteristics were included. Results were compared to a large previously published cohort of Fontan patients. Univariate linear regression was used to identify associations between demographics, cardiac anatomy, and exercise parameters. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results/Data: Baseline demographics were notable for an older patient population (31±7 years) with lower indexed peak VO 2 (20.5±5.6 mL/kg/min) and greater V E /VCO 2 slope (37±7) compared to the historic cohort. Indexed peak VO2 was associated with age, BMI, type of Fontan conduit, FEV1, FVC, resting oxygen saturation, peak systolic blood pressure, and peak heart rate. Indexed peak VO 2 was notably not significantly associated with sex, systemic ventricular morphology, ventricular systolic function, Fontan pressure, or the presence of conventional heart failure medical therapy. Conclusions: In the growing population of older patients with Fontan physiology, development of age-specific population normative data may increase the clinical utility of CPET. Further investigation of the relationship between imaging characteristics, hemodynamics, and exercise parameters is needed in the Fontan population.