Method and apparatus for safe and efficient delivery of cardiac stress augmentation pacing

A cardiac pacing system, comprising:

• a pacing output circuit adapted to deliver pacing pulses;
• and
• a pacing control circuit coupled to the pacing output circuit and adapted to control the delivery of the pacing pulses, the pacing control circuit including:
• a memory circuit storing a delivery schedule specifying timing of stress augmentation pacing sessions each including a session duration during which the pacing pulses are delivered using pacing parameters selected to augment cardiac stress to a level effective in slowing or stopping progression of a cardiac disorder;
• an inhibitory signal input to receive an inhibitory signal;
• and
• a stress augmentation pacing controller coupled to the memory circuit and the inhibitory signal input, the stress augmentation pacing controller programmed to initiate each of the stress augmentation pacing sessions according to the delivery schedule if the inhibitory signal is not present at a scheduled beginning of the each of the stress augmentation pacing sessions and reschedule one or more of the stress augmentation pacing sessions if the inhibitory signal is present at the scheduled beginning of the each of the stress augmentation pacing sessions.