Exercise Performance And Aerobic Capacity In Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: A Follow-up Study

Abstract

In order to control de development of persons with congenital heart disease, it is important to follow their aerobic capacity (AC), especially when they exercise. PURPOSE: To study the progress of Exercise Performance (EP) and AC in the follow-up of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A longitudinal study with 127 adults with a mean age of 33.77 years (11.57) (71 women; and 56 men) who have undergone two cardiopulmonary exercise test (CEPT) in at least one year between the first and the second test. The AC and EP were assessed by a CPET using a ramp protocol over a treadmill obtaining cardiovascular and metabolic data. Participants started walking at 3 km/h and 0% grade for two minutes, increasing the speed 0.3 km/h, and 1.4% grade every minute to a maximum of 12% until exhaustion. Descriptive for all variables were obtained, and an analysis of variance (ANOVA one way; post-hoc Bonferroni) to evaluate significant differences among the first and the second CPET in the VO2Peak, body weight, time of effort, maximal velocity and % grade was applied. RESULTS: A significant decrease of AC appeared, where the VO2Peak in the first CPET was 27.73 (0.68) ml/kg/min versus in the second CPET was 26.62 (0.69) (P = 0.015). A significant increase was observed in the body weigh 64.98 (1.13) versus 66.55 (1.17) (P = 0.001). No significant differences were observed in terms of EP. Comparing the first with the second CPET, the mean exercise time was 12.75 min (3.11) versus 12.46 min (2.62) (P = 0.420); the mean maximal velocity was 6.2 km/h (0.8) versus 6.1 km/h (0.8) (P = 0.114); and the maximum % grade was 11.45% (0.11) versus 11.62% (0.09) (P = 0.159). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that despite observed decline in VO2Peak and an increase in the body weight the EP (duration of exercise time, velocity and percentage of grade) has been maintained without a deterioration along the time, sign of favorable evolution of the CHD in adults. More research is needed to find the reason why the EP does not correspond to the AC. Supported by SUR of DEC Generalitat de Catalunya and European Union 2020FI_B200128.