Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Blockade Effects on Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Beta-blockers are increasingly prescribed while the effects of beta-adrenergic receptor blockade on cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET)-derived parameters remain under-studied. METHODS: Twenty-one young healthy adults repeated three CPET at the same time with an interval of 7 days between each test. The tests were performed 3 h after a random, double-blind, cross-over single-dose intake of placebo, 2.5 mg or 5.0 mg bisoprolol, a cardio-selective beta1-adrenoreceptor antagonist. Gas exchange, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured at rest and during cyclo-ergometric incremental CPET. RESULTS: Maximal workload and VO(2)max were unaffected by the treatment, with maximal respiratory exchange ratio > 1.15 in all tests. A beta-blocker dose-dependent effect reduced resting and maximal BP and HR and the chronotropic response to exercise, evaluated by the HR/VO(2) slope (placebo: 2.9 ± 0.4 beat/ml/kg; 2.5 mg bisoprolol: 2.4 ± 0.5 beat/ml/kg; 5.0 mg bisoprolol: 2.3 ± 0.4 beat/ml/kg, p < 0.001). Ventilation efficiency measured by the VE/VCO(2) slope and the ventilatory equivalent for CO(2) at the ventilatory threshold were not affected by beta1-receptor blockade. Post-exercise chronotropic recovery measured after 1 min was enhanced under beta1-blocker (placebo: 26 ± 7 bpm; 2.5 mg bisoprolol: 32 ± 6 bpm; 5.0 mg bisoprolol: 33 ± 6 bpm, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that a single dose of bisoprolol does not affect metabolism, respiratory response and exercise capacity. However, beta-adrenergic blockade dose dependently reduces exercise hemodynamic response by lowering BP and the chronotropic response.