Comparison of peak exercise oxygen uptake in men versus women in chronic heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Results of exercise testing in 150 patients with chronic heart failure show that women were characterized by shorter exercise time, peak oxygen consumption, and lower peak oxygen pulse than men. There was a 4.1-ml/kg/min difference in peak oxygen uptake between genders after the adjustment of age, peak heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, ejection fraction, and etiology of heart failure.