Total haemoglobin mass, but not haemoglobin concentration, is associated with preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing-derived oxygen-consumption variables

Abstract

Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) measures peak exertional oxygen consumption (V˙O2peak) and that at the anaerobic threshold (V˙O2 at AT, i.e. the point at which anaerobic metabolism contributes substantially to overall metabolism). Lower values are associated with excess postoperative morbidity and mortality. A reduced haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) results from a reduction in total haemoglobin mass (tHb-mass) or an increase in plasma volume. Thus, tHb-mass might be a more useful measure of oxygen-carrying capacity and might correlate better with CPET-derived fitness measures in preoperative patients than does circulating [Hb]. Methods: Before major elective surgery, CPET was performed, and both tHb-mass (optimized carbon monoxide rebreathing method) and circulating [Hb] were determined. Results: In 42 patients (83% male), [Hb] was unrelated toV˙O2 at AT andV˙O2peak (r=0.02, P=0.89 and r=0.04, P=0.80, respectively) and explained none of the variance in either measure. In contrast, tHb-mass was related to both (r=0.661, P<0.0001 and r=0.483, P=0.001 forV˙O2 at AT andV˙O2peak, respectively). The tHb-mass explained 44% of variance inV˙O2 at AT (P<0.0001) and 23% inV˙O2peak (P=0.001). Conclusions: In contrast to [Hb], tHb-mass is an important determinant of physical fitness before major elective surgery. Further studies should determine whether low tHb-mass is predictive of poor outcome and whether targeted increases in tHb-mass might thus improve outcome.