Randomized controlled trial of a home-based exercise program for children with congenital heart disease following interventional cardiac catheterization: A preliminary study

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that the majority of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at an increased risk of motor development problems. Studies identifying the efficacy of exercise therapy are rare in this field. The aims of this study are to identify the efficacy of a home-based exercise program to improve the motor function of children with CHD following interventional cardiac catheterization. Evaluator-blinded randomized controlled trial: 87 children with CHD following interventional cardiac catheterization were recruited. Subjects were randomly allocated to either an intervention group (45 patients) or a control group (42 patients). The intervention group carried out home-based exercises, and the control group received education only. Motor quotient was assessed by the “Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2nd Edition” as the primary outcomes. The mean age was 31.2 ± 17.3 months in the control group (27 girls/15 boys) and 27.0 ± 16.9 months in the intervention group (30 girls/15 boys). There was no significant difference in gross motor quotient (GMQ), fine motor quotient (FMQ) and total motor quotient (TMQ) before the cardiac catheterization between two groups. The GMQ, FMQ and TMQ at 6 months after the cardiac catheterization in the control group was significantly lower than those in the intervention group. A home-based exercise program have the beneficial effect for children with CHD following interventional cardiac catheterization by promoting motor development.