Comparison of exercise pulmonary function test using by treadmill and bicycle ergometer in patients with respiratory diseases

Objective: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with heart and lung problems is used to assess functional capacity, evaluate responses to medical treatment, plan for exercise therapy, assess progression of disease process, and determine prognosis. Particularly in the patients with lung cancer, the exercise pulmonary function test gives significant physiologic assessment of the lung resection candidate. Common exercise modalities are running and cycling. Until now, the comparison of two tests mainly has been done in normal person and patients with cardiac diseases. This study is designed to compare the treadmill and bicycle exercise pulmonary function test in patients with respiratory diseases. Methods: Twenty one patients underwent a progressively incremental exercise test to the symptom-limited stage with the treadmill (Vmax29 Sensor Medics, USA) and the bicycle (model No. 2,900 Sensor Medics, USA) with 7 days apart between the two tests. Measurements were made of the metabolic, cardiorespiratory parameters, blood gases, and symptoms. Results: The results of the treadmill exercise showed significant elevation in the V̇O₂max, VEmax, and anaerobic threshold compared to those of bicycle exercise. In contrast, the results of the breathing and heart rate reserve showed the reverse. Conclusion: These results suggest that the type of exercise should be taken into consideration when interpreting exercise test in patients with respiratory diseases.