Cardiopulmonary Fitness and Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients With Myocarditis

Background

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is considered a gold standard in assessing CRF. Patients with myocarditis are recommended to abstain from exercise because of the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Therefore, the clinical benefit of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has not been previously established in this population.