Abstract submission website

Abstract submission website Abdominal Aortic Diseases ESVS2016-1232 Title: Quality Of Life Associations To Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing In Patients Undergoing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair. Amy Harwood* 1, Hashem Barakat1, Edward Broadbent1, George Smith1, Daniel Carradice1, Ian Chetter1 1Academic Vascular Department, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom Introduction: Perioperative assessment of patients undergoing repair of their abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is crucial in determining risk and long-term clinical outcomes. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPEX) is increasingly being used in preoperative assessments of patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (AAA). CPEX testing involves measuring both the respiratory oxygen uptake (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) at varying levels and intensities4 to provide the assessor with two main outcomes; VO2MAX and the anaerobic threshold (AT). These outcomes have been shown to be predictive of postoperative mortality and morbidity in non-cardiac surgical intervention. The object of this study was to establish if health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) outcome as measured by two questionnaires was predictive of overall fitness level, as determined by the CPEX outcome.  Methods: Prospective data from consecutive patients undergoing CPEX between September 2011 and September 2013 was analysed. The main CPEX parameters included anaerobic threshold (AT) and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2MAX). Ventilatory equivalents for oxygen (VE/VO2) and carbon dioxide (VE/VCO2), AT time and total time were also recorded. Two self-administered questionnaires were completed independently prior to CPEX assessment. The questionnaires used were the generic Short-Form 8 (SF8) and the European Quality of Life questionnaire (EuroQol). Correlations were performed between the main outcome variables as mentioned above and the two questionnaires; namely SF8 and EuroQol. Prior to analysis all data was tested for normality, as all data was normal a Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used. Results: The study included 107 patients with a mean age of 73.5±7.1. 89.7% were male with 65 patients undergoing open repair and the remaining 42 undergoing endovascular repair. Patients who underwent EVAR were significantly older (p < 0.001), however there were no other statistically significant differences. None of the CPEX variables were well correlated to either questionnaire. The closest correlation was between VO2MAX and the SF8 questionnaire r = 0.4.  Conclusion: Patient self-reported exercise tolerance has always been regarded as a good indicator for pre-operative fitness and self-reported physical status is often using during risk assessment. These results show that patient reported quality of life is poorly associated to outcomes derived from a cardiopulmonary exercise test. As such CPEX should be used as part of routine pre-operative assessment and utilized in the clinical decision making process of all centres.