Determinants of maximal exercise performance in chronic heart failure.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is characterized by symptoms like fatigue, dyspnoea and limited exercise performance. It has been postulated that maximal exercise performance (Wmax) is predominantly limited by skeletal muscle function and less by heart function.

Aim: To study the interrelation between most relevant muscle and anthropometrical variables and Wmax in CHF patients in order to develop a model that describes the impact of these variables for maximal exercise performance.