Determination of Peak Oxygen Uptake in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: The Role of Arterial Stiffness in Cardio-Vascular-Skeletal Muscle Coupling.

The relationship between arterial stiffness and oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate this relationship and factors contributing to VO 2 in patients with AMI. The role of arterial stiffness in cardio-skeletal muscle coupling during exercise was then elucidated. Upon discharge, we measured exercise capacity using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX), assessed arterial stiffness with the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), and determined body composition to assess the skeletal muscle mass of 101 patients with AMI. Patients were categorized based on their CAVI scores into three groups: (i) normal (CAVI: ≤7.9), (ii) borderline (CAVI: 8.0-8.9), and (iii) abnormal (CAVI: ≥9.0). Subsequently, VO 2 was compared among these groups. The relationship between the CAVI and VO 2 Peak during CPX and factors contributing to VO 2 Peak were investigated. The abnormal CAVI group had a significantly lower VO 2 Peak than the normal and borderline groups. The CAVI was associated with VO 2 Peak . Furthermore, the CAVI was found to be a factor contributing to VO 2 Peak . These findings suggest that arterial stiffness in tissue blood distribution and blood supply causes systemic exercise limits in patients with AMI. This suggests that arterial stiffness plays a significant role in cardio-vascular-skeletal muscle coupling.