Determinants of minute ventilation-carbon dioxide production relationship in Chagas cardiomyopathy.

The minute ventilation-carbon dioxide production relationship (VE/VCO2 slope) is among the main prognostic factors of Chagas cardiomyopathy whose determinants remain unknown. Seventy-eight patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy were evaluated using clinical assessment, cardiopulmonary exercise test, echocardiography, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Age, functional class, International Physical Activity Questionnaire score, and dilated cardiomyopathy with systolic dysfunction were independent determinants of VE/VCO2 slope, and these variables explained 63% of its variance. The VE/VCO2 slope was related to age, functional class, physical activity level, and dilated cardiomyopathy with systolic dysfunction in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy.