Step by Step: Evaluation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Children, Young Adults, and Patients with Congenital Heart Disease Using a Simple Standardized Stair Climbing Test
(1) Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is known to be a prognostic factor regarding long-term morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to develop a standardized Stair Climbing Test (SCT) with a reliable correlation to spiroergometry and the 6MWT which can be used in healthy children as wel...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/2/236 |
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| author | Maurice Pablo Mall Johanna Wander Anne Lentz André Jakob Felix Sebastian Oberhoffer Guido Mandilaras Nikolaus Alexander Haas Simone Katrin Dold |
| author_facet | Maurice Pablo Mall Johanna Wander Anne Lentz André Jakob Felix Sebastian Oberhoffer Guido Mandilaras Nikolaus Alexander Haas Simone Katrin Dold |
| author_sort | Maurice Pablo Mall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is known to be a prognostic factor regarding long-term morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to develop a standardized Stair Climbing Test (SCT) with a reliable correlation to spiroergometry and the 6MWT which can be used in healthy children as well as patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and a restricted exercise capacity. (2) Methods: A total of 28 healthy participants aged 10–18 years were included. We tested the individuals’ CRF by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a treadmill, the 6MWT, and a newly developed Stair Climbing Test (SCT). For the SCT, we defined a standardized SCT protocol with a total height of 13.14 m to achieve maximal exercise effects while recording time and vital parameters. To compare the SCT, the 6 Min Walking Test, and CPET, we introduced an SCT-Index that included patient data (weight, height) and time. To assess the SCT’s feasibility for clinical practice, we also tested our protocol with five adolescents with complex congenital heart disease (i.e., Fontan circulation). (3) Results: A strong correlation was observed between SCT-Index and O<sub>2</sub> pulse (r = 0.921; <i>p</i> < 0.001). In addition, when comparing the time achieved during SCT (tSCT) with VO<sub>2</sub>max (mL/min/kg) and VO<sub>2</sub>max (mL/min), strong correlations were found (r = −0.672; <i>p</i> < 0.001 and r = −0.764; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Finally, we determined a very strong correlation between SCT-Index and VO<sub>2</sub>max (mL/min) (r = 0.927; <i>p</i> = <0.001). When comparing the 6MWD to tSCT, there was a moderate correlation (r = −0.544; <i>p</i> = 0.003). It appears to be feasible in patients with Fontan circulation. (4) Conclusions: We were able to demonstrate that there is a significant correlation between our standardized SCT and treadmill CPET. Therefore, we can say that the SCT can be used as an easy supplement to CPET and in certain contexts, it can also be used as a screening tool when CPET is not available. The advantages would be that the SCT is a simple, quick, cost-effective, and reliable standardized (sub)maximal exercise test to evaluate CRF in healthy children on a routine basis. We can even assume that it can be used in patients with congenital heart disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:37:59Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:37:59Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-be9b21e49ae1498481527b047e53d0422024-02-23T15:12:28ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-02-0111223610.3390/children11020236Step by Step: Evaluation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Children, Young Adults, and Patients with Congenital Heart Disease Using a Simple Standardized Stair Climbing TestMaurice Pablo Mall0Johanna Wander1Anne Lentz2André Jakob3Felix Sebastian Oberhoffer4Guido Mandilaras5Nikolaus Alexander Haas6Simone Katrin Dold7Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany(1) Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is known to be a prognostic factor regarding long-term morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to develop a standardized Stair Climbing Test (SCT) with a reliable correlation to spiroergometry and the 6MWT which can be used in healthy children as well as patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and a restricted exercise capacity. (2) Methods: A total of 28 healthy participants aged 10–18 years were included. We tested the individuals’ CRF by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a treadmill, the 6MWT, and a newly developed Stair Climbing Test (SCT). For the SCT, we defined a standardized SCT protocol with a total height of 13.14 m to achieve maximal exercise effects while recording time and vital parameters. To compare the SCT, the 6 Min Walking Test, and CPET, we introduced an SCT-Index that included patient data (weight, height) and time. To assess the SCT’s feasibility for clinical practice, we also tested our protocol with five adolescents with complex congenital heart disease (i.e., Fontan circulation). (3) Results: A strong correlation was observed between SCT-Index and O<sub>2</sub> pulse (r = 0.921; <i>p</i> < 0.001). In addition, when comparing the time achieved during SCT (tSCT) with VO<sub>2</sub>max (mL/min/kg) and VO<sub>2</sub>max (mL/min), strong correlations were found (r = −0.672; <i>p</i> < 0.001 and r = −0.764; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Finally, we determined a very strong correlation between SCT-Index and VO<sub>2</sub>max (mL/min) (r = 0.927; <i>p</i> = <0.001). When comparing the 6MWD to tSCT, there was a moderate correlation (r = −0.544; <i>p</i> = 0.003). It appears to be feasible in patients with Fontan circulation. (4) Conclusions: We were able to demonstrate that there is a significant correlation between our standardized SCT and treadmill CPET. Therefore, we can say that the SCT can be used as an easy supplement to CPET and in certain contexts, it can also be used as a screening tool when CPET is not available. The advantages would be that the SCT is a simple, quick, cost-effective, and reliable standardized (sub)maximal exercise test to evaluate CRF in healthy children on a routine basis. We can even assume that it can be used in patients with congenital heart disease.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/2/236stair climbing testcardiorespiratory fitnessexercise testchildrencongenital heart disease |
| spellingShingle | Maurice Pablo Mall Johanna Wander Anne Lentz André Jakob Felix Sebastian Oberhoffer Guido Mandilaras Nikolaus Alexander Haas Simone Katrin Dold Step by Step: Evaluation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Children, Young Adults, and Patients with Congenital Heart Disease Using a Simple Standardized Stair Climbing Test Children stair climbing test cardiorespiratory fitness exercise test children congenital heart disease |
| title | Step by Step: Evaluation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Children, Young Adults, and Patients with Congenital Heart Disease Using a Simple Standardized Stair Climbing Test |
| title_full | Step by Step: Evaluation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Children, Young Adults, and Patients with Congenital Heart Disease Using a Simple Standardized Stair Climbing Test |
| title_fullStr | Step by Step: Evaluation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Children, Young Adults, and Patients with Congenital Heart Disease Using a Simple Standardized Stair Climbing Test |
| title_full_unstemmed | Step by Step: Evaluation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Children, Young Adults, and Patients with Congenital Heart Disease Using a Simple Standardized Stair Climbing Test |
| title_short | Step by Step: Evaluation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Children, Young Adults, and Patients with Congenital Heart Disease Using a Simple Standardized Stair Climbing Test |
| title_sort | step by step evaluation of cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy children young adults and patients with congenital heart disease using a simple standardized stair climbing test |
| topic | stair climbing test cardiorespiratory fitness exercise test children congenital heart disease |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/2/236 |
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