Cardiopulmonary exercise test

Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), also known as cardiopulmonary exercise testing, is a non-invasive diagnostic assessment that assesses the combined performance of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems during physical exercise. First developed in the early 20th century, CPET has become a gold-standard method for evaluating cardiorespiratory function. It is widely used to measure exercise tolerance, diagnose cardiopulmonary diseases and guide individualized treatment plans for patients.

During the test, key physiological parameters, including heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen consumption and ventilation patterns are continuously monitored while the patient performs graded exercise of increasing intensity, typically on a treadmill or cycle ergometer. Advanced data analysis is an essential component of CPET, enabling clinicians to interpret the body's response to physical stress and detect abnormalities that may not be evident at rest.

However, CPET may not be suitable for high-risk patients, such as those recovering from a recent heart attack (myocardial infarction) or experiencing acute respiratory failure. Despite these contraindications, CPET remains widely utilized in clinical practice, and when combined with other tools, new applications continue to emerge.