Benefits of Physical Activity in Children with Cardiac Diseases—A Concise Summary for Pediatricians

A physically active lifestyle offers multiple benefits, including lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, lowering body-mass index (BMI), and, last but not least, improving the quality of life. However, there are still disincentives to physical activity in children with heart diseases due to th...

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Main Authors: Alina Costina Luca, Elena Țarcă, Valentina-Georgiana Tănase, Ioana-Alexandra Pădureț, Teodora-Simina Dragoiu, Lăcrămioara Ionela Butnariu, Solange Tamara Roșu, Iulia Cristina Roca, Dana-Elena Mîndru
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Children
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/12/1432
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author Alina Costina Luca
Elena Țarcă
Valentina-Georgiana Tănase
Ioana-Alexandra Pădureț
Teodora-Simina Dragoiu
Lăcrămioara Ionela Butnariu
Solange Tamara Roșu
Iulia Cristina Roca
Dana-Elena Mîndru
author_facet Alina Costina Luca
Elena Țarcă
Valentina-Georgiana Tănase
Ioana-Alexandra Pădureț
Teodora-Simina Dragoiu
Lăcrămioara Ionela Butnariu
Solange Tamara Roșu
Iulia Cristina Roca
Dana-Elena Mîndru
author_sort Alina Costina Luca
collection DOAJ
description A physically active lifestyle offers multiple benefits, including lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, lowering body-mass index (BMI), and, last but not least, improving the quality of life. However, there are still disincentives to physical activity in children with heart diseases due to the high protection of parents and the scarcity of data in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to help pediatricians and pediatric cardiologists identify the type of physical activity allowed in children with congenital cardiac malformations, thus minimizing the risk of major adverse effects, such as acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, we searched various electronic databases, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Embase. We selected 61 articles published between 2008–2024. These articles included data on pediatric patients, from newborn to adolescent age. We decided to choose the 2008 study because of its focus on the essential role of education in schools regarding physical activity and the prevention of complications from sedentary lifestyles. Subsequently, we analyzed the data available in the literature up to 2024 regarding the type, intensity, and duration of exercise for patients with various congenital heart malformations. The conclusions of this review are presented based on the category of heart disease. There are differences in the free practice of sports in children with cardiomyopathies, atrioventricular block, arrhythmias with a genetic substrate, valvulopathies, and cyanogenic and non-cyanogenic congenital malformations. For example, children with arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy are not allowed to participate in sports competitions, but they can perform low physical activity for 150 min/week—golf, table tennis, and photography. However, it is recognized that a physically active lifestyle correlates with a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases, body mass index, and an improvement in the quality of life. Children with congenital heart disease who are active have improved their cardiovascular systems.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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spelling doaj-art-98a3b8a7c5004b34b63680d2d27b39562024-12-27T14:17:41ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-11-011112143210.3390/children11121432Benefits of Physical Activity in Children with Cardiac Diseases—A Concise Summary for PediatriciansAlina Costina Luca0Elena Țarcă1Valentina-Georgiana Tănase2Ioana-Alexandra Pădureț3Teodora-Simina Dragoiu4Lăcrămioara Ionela Butnariu5Solange Tamara Roșu6Iulia Cristina Roca7Dana-Elena Mîndru8Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgery II, Discipline of Pediatric Surgery, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaSfânta Maria’ Emergency Children’s Hospital, 700309 Iasi, RomaniaSfânta Maria’ Emergency Children’s Hospital, 700309 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Sports Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Nursing, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgery II, Discipline of Emergency Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaA physically active lifestyle offers multiple benefits, including lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, lowering body-mass index (BMI), and, last but not least, improving the quality of life. However, there are still disincentives to physical activity in children with heart diseases due to the high protection of parents and the scarcity of data in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to help pediatricians and pediatric cardiologists identify the type of physical activity allowed in children with congenital cardiac malformations, thus minimizing the risk of major adverse effects, such as acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, we searched various electronic databases, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Embase. We selected 61 articles published between 2008–2024. These articles included data on pediatric patients, from newborn to adolescent age. We decided to choose the 2008 study because of its focus on the essential role of education in schools regarding physical activity and the prevention of complications from sedentary lifestyles. Subsequently, we analyzed the data available in the literature up to 2024 regarding the type, intensity, and duration of exercise for patients with various congenital heart malformations. The conclusions of this review are presented based on the category of heart disease. There are differences in the free practice of sports in children with cardiomyopathies, atrioventricular block, arrhythmias with a genetic substrate, valvulopathies, and cyanogenic and non-cyanogenic congenital malformations. For example, children with arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy are not allowed to participate in sports competitions, but they can perform low physical activity for 150 min/week—golf, table tennis, and photography. However, it is recognized that a physically active lifestyle correlates with a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases, body mass index, and an improvement in the quality of life. Children with congenital heart disease who are active have improved their cardiovascular systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/12/1432congenital cardiac malformationsphysical activitycardiovascular systemchildren
spellingShingle Alina Costina Luca
Elena Țarcă
Valentina-Georgiana Tănase
Ioana-Alexandra Pădureț
Teodora-Simina Dragoiu
Lăcrămioara Ionela Butnariu
Solange Tamara Roșu
Iulia Cristina Roca
Dana-Elena Mîndru
Benefits of Physical Activity in Children with Cardiac Diseases—A Concise Summary for Pediatricians
Children
congenital cardiac malformations
physical activity
cardiovascular system
children
title Benefits of Physical Activity in Children with Cardiac Diseases—A Concise Summary for Pediatricians
title_full Benefits of Physical Activity in Children with Cardiac Diseases—A Concise Summary for Pediatricians
title_fullStr Benefits of Physical Activity in Children with Cardiac Diseases—A Concise Summary for Pediatricians
title_full_unstemmed Benefits of Physical Activity in Children with Cardiac Diseases—A Concise Summary for Pediatricians
title_short Benefits of Physical Activity in Children with Cardiac Diseases—A Concise Summary for Pediatricians
title_sort benefits of physical activity in children with cardiac diseases a concise summary for pediatricians
topic congenital cardiac malformations
physical activity
cardiovascular system
children
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/12/1432
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