Children with Cardiomyopathy have Active Lifestyles Despite Reporting Disease-Specific Barriers to Physical Activity: A Mixed-Methods Study

OBJECTIVES This exploratory mixed-methods study explored the barriers to physical activity, daily physical activity and submaximal exercise capacity among children with and at risk for cardiomyopathy and children with atrial septal defects. METHODS The study followed a convergent parallel mixed meth...

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Main Authors: Kevin Moncion, Letizia Gardin, Jane Lougheed, Kristi Adamo, Patricia E. Longmuir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sapientia Publishing Group 2022-05-01
Series:Exercise Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.exercmed.org/upload/pdf/em-2022-004.pdf
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author Kevin Moncion
Letizia Gardin
Jane Lougheed
Kristi Adamo
Patricia E. Longmuir
author_facet Kevin Moncion
Letizia Gardin
Jane Lougheed
Kristi Adamo
Patricia E. Longmuir
author_sort Kevin Moncion
collection DOAJ
description OBJECTIVES This exploratory mixed-methods study explored the barriers to physical activity, daily physical activity and submaximal exercise capacity among children with and at risk for cardiomyopathy and children with atrial septal defects. METHODS The study followed a convergent parallel mixed methodology design. Semi-structured interviews explored physical activity barriers. Seven-day accelerometry assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and an intermittent cardiopulmonary exercise test measured submaximal exercise capacity. RESULTS Twenty children, including 5 with cardiomyopathy (n=2 females, 14.2 ± 2.7 years old), 7 who were genotype-positive phenotype-negative for cardiomyopathy (n=5 females, 10.6 ± 3.3 years old) and 8 with atrial septal defects (n=4 females, 9.4 ± 3.8 years old) were recruited. Children with cardiomyopathy reported disease-specific physical activity barriers, while children who were genotype-positive phenotype-negative perceived barriers related to lack of time, parent support or activity motivation. The average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was less than the recommended 60-minutes/day (n=20, mean 48.1 ± 18.0 minutes). Children with cardiomyopathy participated a median of 141.2 [interquartile range (IQR): 98.8) minutes of light-intensity physical activity and a median of 55.6 (IQR: 34.6) minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The average submaximal exercise capacity was low (n=16, 25.2 ± 5.7 mL/kg/min). Estimated submaximal exercise capacity, including metabolic equivalent (4.5 ± 3.1 METs), respiratory exchange ratio (median = 1.0, IQR: 0.09) and ratings of perceived exertion (median = 7, IQR: 5) at peak exercise suggest that children with cardiomyopathy appear to have the exercise capacity to participate in low-to-moderate intensity activities. CONCLUSIONS These novel data suggest that a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy may not preclude children from participating in a healthy, active lifestyle. However, they perceive disease-specific physical activity barriers and may require support to optimize their level of participation for optimal health.
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spelling doaj.art-e30d9a65861049bcb2d32d5db9db04182023-05-23T04:55:51ZengSapientia Publishing GroupExercise Medicine2508-90562022-05-01610.26644/em.2022.00444Children with Cardiomyopathy have Active Lifestyles Despite Reporting Disease-Specific Barriers to Physical Activity: A Mixed-Methods StudyKevin Moncion0Letizia Gardin1Jane Lougheed2Kristi Adamo3Patricia E. Longmuir4 University of Ottawa, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada University of Ottawa, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada University of Ottawa, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaOBJECTIVES This exploratory mixed-methods study explored the barriers to physical activity, daily physical activity and submaximal exercise capacity among children with and at risk for cardiomyopathy and children with atrial septal defects. METHODS The study followed a convergent parallel mixed methodology design. Semi-structured interviews explored physical activity barriers. Seven-day accelerometry assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and an intermittent cardiopulmonary exercise test measured submaximal exercise capacity. RESULTS Twenty children, including 5 with cardiomyopathy (n=2 females, 14.2 ± 2.7 years old), 7 who were genotype-positive phenotype-negative for cardiomyopathy (n=5 females, 10.6 ± 3.3 years old) and 8 with atrial septal defects (n=4 females, 9.4 ± 3.8 years old) were recruited. Children with cardiomyopathy reported disease-specific physical activity barriers, while children who were genotype-positive phenotype-negative perceived barriers related to lack of time, parent support or activity motivation. The average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was less than the recommended 60-minutes/day (n=20, mean 48.1 ± 18.0 minutes). Children with cardiomyopathy participated a median of 141.2 [interquartile range (IQR): 98.8) minutes of light-intensity physical activity and a median of 55.6 (IQR: 34.6) minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The average submaximal exercise capacity was low (n=16, 25.2 ± 5.7 mL/kg/min). Estimated submaximal exercise capacity, including metabolic equivalent (4.5 ± 3.1 METs), respiratory exchange ratio (median = 1.0, IQR: 0.09) and ratings of perceived exertion (median = 7, IQR: 5) at peak exercise suggest that children with cardiomyopathy appear to have the exercise capacity to participate in low-to-moderate intensity activities. CONCLUSIONS These novel data suggest that a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy may not preclude children from participating in a healthy, active lifestyle. However, they perceive disease-specific physical activity barriers and may require support to optimize their level of participation for optimal health.http://www.exercmed.org/upload/pdf/em-2022-004.pdfphysical activityexercise physiologypediatric cardiomyopathymixed methodology
spellingShingle Kevin Moncion
Letizia Gardin
Jane Lougheed
Kristi Adamo
Patricia E. Longmuir
Children with Cardiomyopathy have Active Lifestyles Despite Reporting Disease-Specific Barriers to Physical Activity: A Mixed-Methods Study
Exercise Medicine
physical activity
exercise physiology
pediatric cardiomyopathy
mixed methodology
title Children with Cardiomyopathy have Active Lifestyles Despite Reporting Disease-Specific Barriers to Physical Activity: A Mixed-Methods Study
title_full Children with Cardiomyopathy have Active Lifestyles Despite Reporting Disease-Specific Barriers to Physical Activity: A Mixed-Methods Study
title_fullStr Children with Cardiomyopathy have Active Lifestyles Despite Reporting Disease-Specific Barriers to Physical Activity: A Mixed-Methods Study
title_full_unstemmed Children with Cardiomyopathy have Active Lifestyles Despite Reporting Disease-Specific Barriers to Physical Activity: A Mixed-Methods Study
title_short Children with Cardiomyopathy have Active Lifestyles Despite Reporting Disease-Specific Barriers to Physical Activity: A Mixed-Methods Study
title_sort children with cardiomyopathy have active lifestyles despite reporting disease specific barriers to physical activity a mixed methods study
topic physical activity
exercise physiology
pediatric cardiomyopathy
mixed methodology
url http://www.exercmed.org/upload/pdf/em-2022-004.pdf
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