Purpose: To analyze the physical performance of the patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), grades I and II of the New York Heart Association (NYHA), submitted to ergometric test: 1) under conventional treatment with digitalis and diuretic; 2) with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, associate with conventional treatment; 3) using captopril associated with digitalis or diuretic.
Methods: A randomized double blind study was performed in 20 patients with CHF (I and II-NYHA) submitted to ergometric test in different therapeutic phases. The initial workload was 5 watts and load was increased until the appearance of limiting symptoms.
Results: The introduction of captopril to the conventional treatment for CHF or associated with digitalis or diuretic promotes significant increase in the duration of the physical exercise, in the oxygen consumption and in the total workload during the ergometric test.
Conclusion: In the initial forms of CHF, captopril provides better physical performance when compared with conventional treatment and the diuretic treatment can be changed for the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor with equal efficacy.