HTx patients with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between 2007 and 2016 were included.  Pre-HTx CPET occurred within 24 months pre-HTx with post-HTx CPET within 12 months following HTx. 
CPET
Previous work has shown sex-related differences in cardiopulmonary responses in patients with heart failure (HF); however, sex differences following heart transplant (HTx) have not been examined.  Thus, we hypothesized women would demonstrate lower peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) but similar ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope) compared with men prior to HTx.  Furthermore, we hypothesized that, following HTx, women would exhibit greater improvements in VO2peak and VE/VCO2 slope compared with men.


 HTx patients with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between 2007 and 2016 were included.  Pre-HTx CPET occurred within 24 months pre-HTx with post-HTx CPET within 12 months following HTx.  Pre-HTx VO2peak (M: 13.9 ± 5.0 vs W: 11.6 ± 3.9 mL/kg/min, P = 0.17) and VE/VCO2 slope (M: 42 ± 12 vs W: 46 ± 18, P = 0.53) were not different between sexes.  Overall, VO2peak (Pre: 13.3 ± 4.8 vs Post: 18.4 ± 4.8 mL/kg/min, P < 0.01) and VE/VCO2 slope (Pre: 43 ± 14 vs Post: 37 ± 6, P = 0.02) improved following HTx.  These data demonstrate that cardiopulmonary improvements following HTx patients occur for both sexes.  Importantly, women show similar significant functional improvements following HTx compared with men.
HTx