Virtual school on clinical exercise testing: core principles

This ERS course is designed to provide an overview of the physiological basis of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Prior to the online session, participants will have the opportunity to review relevant online learning modules in order to ensure that they are familiar with the terminology and concepts used throughout the live online session. The learning modules are structured around the following topics:

• Physiological responses to CPET
• Physiological limitations to CPET
• Equipment and methods

An application will be submitted to EBAP (European Board for Accreditation in Pneumology) for CME accreditation of this event. The number of credits that participants will receive will correspond to the time spent viewing the sessions live.

Course format

• Pre-course online modules
• Lectures
• Pre-recorded procedures with live commentary
• Tutorials (small group discussions)
• Case presentations (in small groups)

Topics:

• Introduction to CPET
• The physiological responses to CPET
• The physiological limitations to CPET
• How to run an incremental exercise testing
• How to interpret CPET key variables
• The metabolic response to incremental exercise
• The ventilatory response to incremental exercise
• The cardiovascular response to incremental exercise
• Equipment and methodology
• The metabolic limitation to exercise
• The ventilatory limitation to exercise
• The pulmonary gas exchange and pulmonary vascular limitation to exercise
• The cardiovascular limitation exercise
• Field testing and methods for assessing physical activity

Learning outcomes

Following this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the physiological significance of cardiopulmonary response profiles, in the context of exercise protocols.
• Describe the typical response profiles observed in patients with different cardio-respiratory diseases.
• Discriminate between “typical” from “anomalous” response profiles that can cause misinterpretation of test results.
• Evaluate the effects of therapeutic interventions.

Target audience

The target audience is primarily beginners in the following groups:

• Clinicians
• Respiratory physiologists
• Respiratory therapists
• Nurses dealing with CPET
• Trainees in the above specialties

However, experts who want to refresh their knowledge are welcome to join the course.