Exercise prescription improves exercise tolerance in young children with CHD: a randomised clinical trial

Objective The main objective of this study was to ascertain if a structured intervention programme can improve the biophysical health of young children with congenital heart disease (CHD). The primary end point was an increase in measureable physical activity levels following the intervention.Method...

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Main Authors: Brian Grant, Andrew J Sands, Frank A Casey, Sinead Callaghan, Margaret Louise Morrison, Pascal P McKeown, Christopher Tennyson, Brian McCrossan, Brian G Craig
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-02-01
Series:Open Heart
Online Access:https://openheart.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001599.full
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author Brian Grant
Andrew J Sands
Frank A Casey
Sinead Callaghan
Margaret Louise Morrison
Pascal P McKeown
Christopher Tennyson
Brian McCrossan
Brian G Craig
author_facet Brian Grant
Andrew J Sands
Frank A Casey
Sinead Callaghan
Margaret Louise Morrison
Pascal P McKeown
Christopher Tennyson
Brian McCrossan
Brian G Craig
author_sort Brian Grant
collection DOAJ
description Objective The main objective of this study was to ascertain if a structured intervention programme can improve the biophysical health of young children with congenital heart disease (CHD). The primary end point was an increase in measureable physical activity levels following the intervention.Methods Patients aged 5–10 years with CHD were identified and invited to participate. Participants completed a baseline biophysical assessment, including a formal exercise stress test and daily activity monitoring using an accelerometer. Following randomisation, the intervention group attended a 1 day education session and received an individual written exercise plan to be continued over the 4-month intervention period. The control group continued with their usual level of care. After 4 months, all participants were reassessed in the same manner as at baseline.Results One hundred and sixty-three participants (mean age 8.4 years) were recruited, 100 of whom were male (61.3%). At baseline, the majority of the children were active with good exercise tolerance. The cyanotic palliated subgroup participants, however, were found to have lower levels of daily activity and significantly limited peak exercise performance compared with the other subgroups. One hundred and fifty-two participants (93.2%) attended for reassessment. Following the intervention, there was a significant improvement in peak exercise capacity in the intervention group. There was also a trend towards increased daily activity levels.Conclusion Overall physical activity levels are well preserved in the majority of young children with CHD. A structured intervention programme significantly increased peak exercise capacity and improved attitudes towards positive lifestyle changes.
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spelling doaj-art-9e752e10ba9b4d3d8a0bc583ea9f69b82024-11-12T04:05:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupOpen Heart2053-36242021-02-018110.1136/openhrt-2021-001599Exercise prescription improves exercise tolerance in young children with CHD: a randomised clinical trialBrian Grant0Andrew J Sands1Frank A Casey2Sinead Callaghan3Margaret Louise Morrison4Pascal P McKeown5Christopher Tennyson6Brian McCrossan7Brian G Craig8Paediatric Cardiology Department, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, UK1 Paediatric Cardiology, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, UKQueen`s University Belfast Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Belfast, UKPaediatric Cardiology Department, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, UKPaediatric Cardiology Department, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, UKPaediatric Cardiology Department, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, UKPaediatric Cardiology Department, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, UKPaediatric Cardiology Department, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, UKPaediatric Cardiology Department, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, UKObjective The main objective of this study was to ascertain if a structured intervention programme can improve the biophysical health of young children with congenital heart disease (CHD). The primary end point was an increase in measureable physical activity levels following the intervention.Methods Patients aged 5–10 years with CHD were identified and invited to participate. Participants completed a baseline biophysical assessment, including a formal exercise stress test and daily activity monitoring using an accelerometer. Following randomisation, the intervention group attended a 1 day education session and received an individual written exercise plan to be continued over the 4-month intervention period. The control group continued with their usual level of care. After 4 months, all participants were reassessed in the same manner as at baseline.Results One hundred and sixty-three participants (mean age 8.4 years) were recruited, 100 of whom were male (61.3%). At baseline, the majority of the children were active with good exercise tolerance. The cyanotic palliated subgroup participants, however, were found to have lower levels of daily activity and significantly limited peak exercise performance compared with the other subgroups. One hundred and fifty-two participants (93.2%) attended for reassessment. Following the intervention, there was a significant improvement in peak exercise capacity in the intervention group. There was also a trend towards increased daily activity levels.Conclusion Overall physical activity levels are well preserved in the majority of young children with CHD. A structured intervention programme significantly increased peak exercise capacity and improved attitudes towards positive lifestyle changes.https://openheart.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001599.full
spellingShingle Brian Grant
Andrew J Sands
Frank A Casey
Sinead Callaghan
Margaret Louise Morrison
Pascal P McKeown
Christopher Tennyson
Brian McCrossan
Brian G Craig
Exercise prescription improves exercise tolerance in young children with CHD: a randomised clinical trial
Open Heart
title Exercise prescription improves exercise tolerance in young children with CHD: a randomised clinical trial
title_full Exercise prescription improves exercise tolerance in young children with CHD: a randomised clinical trial
title_fullStr Exercise prescription improves exercise tolerance in young children with CHD: a randomised clinical trial
title_full_unstemmed Exercise prescription improves exercise tolerance in young children with CHD: a randomised clinical trial
title_short Exercise prescription improves exercise tolerance in young children with CHD: a randomised clinical trial
title_sort exercise prescription improves exercise tolerance in young children with chd a randomised clinical trial
url https://openheart.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001599.full
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