Publications

Cardiopulmonary Fitness and Physical Activity Among Children and Adolescents With Inherited Cardiac Disease

JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Feb 3;8(2):e2461795. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.61795.

Luc Souilla 1 2 Oscar Werner 2 Helena Huguet 3 Arthur Gavotto 1 2 Marie Vincenti 1 2 Jean-Luc Pasquie 1 4 Gregoire De La Villeon 2 5 Sophie Guillaumont 2 5 Victor Pommier 2 5 6 Stefan Matecki 1 Alban-Elouen Baruteau 7 8 Constance Beyler 9 Christophe Delclaux 9 Isabelle Denjoy 10 Philippe Charron 10 Philippe Chevalier 11 Antoine Delinière 11 12 Mathieu Andrianoely 13 14 Lauriane Cornuault 13 14 Caroline Besnard-Neyraud 13 14 Frederic Sacher 14 15 Patricia Reant 14 16 Denis Mottet 17 Marie-Christine Picot 3 Pascal Amedro 13 14 Quality of Life in Children With Inherited Cardiomyopathy or Arrhythmia (QUALIMYORYTHM) Study Group

PMID: 39998828 PMCID: PMC11862974 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.61795

Abstract

Importance: Historical restrictions on children with inherited cardiac arrhythmia or cardiomyopathy have been implemented to mitigate the potential risk of sudden death, but these limitations can be detrimental to overall health and cardiopulmonary fitness.

Objectives: To evaluate cardiopulmonary fitness and physical activity among children with inherited cardiac disease and identify the factors associated with maximum oxygen uptake (V̇o2max) in this population.

Design, setting, and participants: This cross-sectional, multicenter, prospective controlled study was conducted in 7 tertiary care expert centers for inherited cardiac disease in France from February 1, 2021, to June 20, 2023, with a 2-week follow-up. Participants included 100 children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years with inherited cardiac arrhythmia or cardiomyopathy who were compared with 107 sex- and age-matched controls.

Main outcomes and measures: Maximum oxygen uptake was assessed using cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and results were expressed using pediatric reference z score values. The main determinants of V̇o2max included clinical (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class, treatment, echocardiographic, and electrocardiogram variables), functional (cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters), sociodemographic (sex, schooling, and parents’ education), and behavioral (physical activity and motivation) characteristics.

Results: A total of 100 patients (mean [SD] age, 12.7 [3.1] years; 52 boys [52.0%]) and 107 controls (mean [SD] age, 11.7 [3.3] years; 54 boys [50.5%]) were included. The V̇o2max was lower in patients than controls, expressed as z scores (mean [SD] score, -1.49 [1.48] vs -0.16 [0.97]; P < .001) or raw values (mean [SD] value, 32.2 [7.9] vs 40.2 [8.5] mL/kg/min; P < .001). Moderate to vigorous physical activity levels were lower in patients than in controls (mean [SD] level, 42.0 [23.6] vs 48.2 [20.4] min/d; P = .009). The final multivariable model explained 80% of the V̇o2max by integrating clinical (lower NYHA functional class, absence of ventricular dilatation, and absence of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator), functional (higher forced vital capacity and ventilatory anaerobic threshold), sociodemographic (male sex, normal progression of schooling, and higher maternal educational level), and behavioral (higher self-reported physical activity and motivation toward physical activity) parameters.

Conclusions and relevance: This cross-sectional study suggests that levels of cardiopulmonary fitness and physical activity were lower in children and adolescents with inherited cardiac disease than in healthy controls, even after adjusting for use of β-blockers and using modern pediatric reference models. Assessing cardiopulmonary fitness among children with inherited cardiac disease can contribute to engaging in a shared decision-making process for sports participation and preventive interventions, such as early cardiac rehabilitation programs.

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