Oxygen Uptake to Work Rate Slope in Children with a Heart, Lung or Muscle Disease

Abstract

The purposes of this study were all to determine if ΔVO₂/ΔWR is dependent on age, body mass, height and fitness and if ΔVO₂/ΔWR could discriminate between healthy children and children with a chronic disease that limits O₂ delivery or utilization. Four groups were included: muscle disease (Juvenile Dermatomyositis; JDM; n=12), lung disease (Cystic Fibrosis; CF; n=13), Congenital Heart Disease (CHD; (n=13), and healthy children (n=44). All children performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer with respiratory gas analysis. The ΔVO₂/ΔWR was determined by linear regression using data from unloaded cycling to peak exercise. No associations were found between the ΔVO₂/ΔWR and age, body mass and height in healthy children. ΔVO₂/ΔWR was significantly correlated with VO_2peak/kg (r=0.44; p<0.01). Children with JDM had lower ΔVO₂/ΔWR values than healthy children (p=0.02), and ΔVO₂/ΔWR tended to be lower in CHD and higher in CF (p=0.09 and p=0.08, respectively). ΔVO₂/ΔWR may be more sensitive for conditions that are characterized by local hypo perfusion (as in JDM), than for conditions that are characterized by impaired oxygen delivery (i. e. CF or CHD).

Key words

exercise test - child - aerobic - anaerobic - oxygen transport

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