Validation of a novel, low-cost, portable MRI-compatible exercise device in healthy volunteers and patients with pulmonary hypertension
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Introduction
The value of exercise cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has been shown in many clinical scenarios. We have developed a MR-compatible exercise apparatus and aim to validate it against the reference standard MR-conventional ergometer.
Methods
The novel device consisted of two half-pipes fixed to a wooden base, with participants wearing knee-length socks with a 0.5kg weight in each sock. Increased workload was achieved by increasing the rate of alternating leg flexion and extension in time with a bleep sound of increasing frequency.
Twenty subjects (10 healthy volunteers, 10 patients with pulmonary hypertension) performed two CMR-augmented cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CMR-CPET) using the novel exercise apparatus and a conventional ergometer in a randomised order.
Results
Comparing peak metrics elicited on both exercise devices, there was a moderate correlation in peak oxygen consumption (VO 2 , r=0.86, P<0.001), cardiac output (CO, r=0.66, P=0.002), stroke volume (SV, r=0.75, P<0.001), peak heart rate (HR, r=0.65, P=0.002) and peak arteriovenous oxygen content gradient (ΔavO 2 , r=0.71, P<0.001). However, all metrics (except peak SV) were significantly lower from the novel device. Both devices were able to elicit statistically significant differences in VO 2 , HR and RVEF between patients and healthy subjects (P≤0.036).
Conclusions
We have created a simple, easy to use and affordable exercise apparatus for CMR environment. This may encourage greater dissemination of exercise CMR in clinical and research practice.
