Cardiac patients at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) are getting healthier faster thanks to recently acquired state-of-the-art cardiopulmonary exercise monitoring equipment with ergospirometry (CPET). The OxyconTM Mobile Device pairs portability with functionality, and packs a big punch in the acquisition of real-time data.
Dr. Jennifer Reed, Director of the Exercise Physiology and Cardiovascular Health Lab and Scientist in the Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation at the UOHI is thrilled to have this equipment for her continued research. Dr. Reed is studying the effects of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise (MICE) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in the improvement of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation.
“The benefit of this equipment is that it is portable and transmits data wirelessly. We can monitor how a patient responds to the changing intensity of exercise, and coach them accordingly,” says Dr. Reed.
The $50,000 piece of equipment can evaluate and interpret the electrical activity of the heart, anaerobic threshold, indirect calorimetry, and cardiac output through a variety of parameters.
“We are one of the few centres in Canada to use this equipment for cardiovascular health research. The Canadian military similarly use this equipment to assess training load and recovery.”
- Dr. Jennifer Reed
The compact device consists of a silicone mask and a small backpack housing a battery and an analyzer. It will provide valuable enrichment to cardiac rehabilitation research since CPET is considered the gold standard for assessing CRF.
So far, the OxyconTM Mobile device is proving to be an effective tool for the collection of research data in the Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation at the UOHI. The studies it supports will one day have the potential to positively impact the long-term exercise maintenance regimes of UOHI patients, improving their prognosis, mortality, overall health and quality of life.
