[An assessment of VO2 kinetics in the recovery phase of cardiopulmonary exercise test in patients with heart disease - importance and classification].

The article reviews the course of VO2 in the phase of recovery kinetics of oxygen uptake (VO2rec) cardiopulmonary exercise test. VO2rec kinetics cannot be completely defined using a single parameter. The article describes the three most frequently used methods: %VO2-REC2, T1/2 VO2rec and TC VO2, and provides detailed procedures of their analysis. The three aforementioned parameters are also at the heart of our classification of VO2rec. The method %VO2-REC2 is an essential one, in our view, since its prognostic significance is proven and it can be also easily applied only based on a data record of the cardiopulmonary exercise test. %VO2-REC2 should be seen, together with VO2peak, VE/VCO2 slope and exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) - as one of the four elementary prognostic markers establishing an advanced chronic heart failure.Key words: cardiopulmonary exercise test - chronic heart failure - prognosis - recovery kinetics of oxygen uptake.