In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), most of the factors associated with the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) are also involved in the pathophysiology of exercise limitation. A new multicentre study investigated possible ability of cardiopulmonary exercise test in improving contemporary strategies for SCD risk stratification.

Data suggest that the VE/VCO₂ slope might improve SCD risk stratification, particularly in those HCM categories classified at low-intermediate SCD risk according to contemporary guidelines. There is a need for further larger studies, possibly on independent cohorts, to confirm our preliminary findings.

Reference. Magrì D, Limongelli G, Re F, Agostoni P, Zachara E, Correale M, Mastromarino V, Santolamazza C, Casenghi M, Pacileo G, Valente F, Musumeci B, Maruotti A, Volpe M. Cardiopulmonary exercise test and sudden cardiac death risk in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Heart. 2016 Feb 5. pii: heartjnl-2015-308453. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308453. [Epub ahead of print] Go tu full text