What is CPX?Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPX) is a non-invasive method used to assess the performance of the heart and lungs at rest and during exercise. What does the test involve?During your CPX test you will be required to perform mild exercise on an upright bicycle whilst breathing through a mouthpiece. Each breath will be measured to assess how the body is performing. The capacity and strength of the lungs is measured before and during exercise. Your heart tracing (ECG) will also be recorded prior to, during and post exercise.
The CPX test will lasts for a total of 40 minutes, however you will only be required to exercise for approximately 10 minutes. The amount of exercise is modest - it does not require you to exert yourself to maximum effort. During the test you will be continuously monitored by the medical team. Results are generally available at the end of the consultation. Who might need a CPX test?1. Patients scheduled for major surgery
For patients undergoing surgery, the performance of the heart and lungs is crucial. CPX testing is used to identify patients in a high risk group, which is generally associated with one’s medical history, surgical history and fitness level. By identifying a patient’s level of risk, specific treatment can be used to reduce the risk to the minimum possible, rather than waiting for complications to develop after surgery. CPX testing is a safe and non-invasive assessment which is performed as an out-patient, making it is an ideal form of assessment.
2. Health check-up
Health assessment is enhanced with CPX. CPX identifies the fitness of the heart and lungs, and enables the subject to exclude specific diseases. Individuals who may benefit from CPX as a method of health assessment include those with specific heart and lung risk factors such as smoking, overweight, family history of heart/lung disease, etc.
3. Rehabilitation
As CPX measures the fitness of an individual it has been used to rehabilitate patients after major illnesses, especially following cardiac and respiratory illnesses. The correct amount of exercise can be assessed, according to the subject’s performance, within the safe limits of their heart and lung performance.
4. Weight Loss and Fitness Training
CPX measures the metabolism during exercise. As exercise progresses from light work to heavy loads, the fuel the body uses changes. CPX can be used to identify the point where maximum fat burning occurs, and can be incorporated into an exercise regime specifically for weight loss.
CPX also identifies zones of exercise which can be very useful for training purposes. Precise knowledge of these zones helps target training goals and titrate exercise programs. What information will be analysed during the CPX? CPX incorporates the following tests: 12 lead ECG Lung Function: Spirometry and lung volumes Lung Function: Flow volume loops Exercise 12 lead ECG Oxygen Consumption during exercise (VO2 max) Anaerobic Threshold (Lactate threshold) Lung Function during exercise Cardiac performance during exercise Metabolism during exercise (Fat vs. carbohydrate burning)
Why have my CPX at London Medical?
The CPX team consists of a medical consultant team who have pioneered CPX medicine within the United Kingdom. The consultants boast an extensive scope of practice which incorporates the assessment of pre-operative patients, to identifying previously undiagnosed cardiac conditions, to the titrating of fitness training. At London Medical, a CPX test is very accessible and does not require a medical referral. For futher enquiries and to book a CPX test email sally@cpx-online.co.uk Patient Information LeafletPlease click here to download the London Medical CPX Patient Information Leaflet. Useful Links and Related ArticleClinical review: How to identify high-risk surgical patients
http://ccforum.com/content/8/5/369 Cardiopulmonary exercise testing as a screening test for perioperative management of major cancer surgery: a pilot study
http://ccforum.com/content/11/S2/P250 Daily Telegraph - Revealed: Lottery of death rates in hospitals' published 24.04.2007
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ Daily Telegraph - 'Death rates in some hospitals three times too high' published 11.07.2008 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2281214/Death-rates-in-some-hospitals-%27three-times-too-high%27.html | 
