Is Cyanosis Exposure Associated with Exercise Capacity or Daily Physical Activity in Children with Complex Congenital Heart Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

Children with congenital heart disease who were exposed to cyanosis for longer periods have lower exercise capacity and are less physically active.

Contribution

This study identifies that cyanosis exposure duration indirectly affects daily physical activity through reduced submaximal exercise capacity in children with complex congenital heart disease.

Findings

Only 17% of children with complex congenital heart disease met daily physical activity recommendations.

Age and cardiopulmonary exercise test duration are the strongest predictors of daily physical activity behavior.

Longer cyanosis exposure reduces submaximal and peak exercise capacity, indirectly affecting physical activity.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
•Age and cardiopulmonary exercise test duration are the strongest predictors of daily physical activity behavior among children with congenital heart disease.•Longer exposure to cyanosis negatively impacts the submaximal exercise capacity needed for an active lifestyle.

Age and cardiopulmonary exercise test duration are the strongest predictors of daily physical activity behavior among children with congenital heart disease.

Longer exposure to cyanosis negatively impacts the submaximal exercise capacity needed for an active lifestyle.

What are the implications of the main findings?
•Children with prolonged exposure to cyanosis are at increased risk for a sedentary lifestyle.•Clinicians can estimate daily physical activity behavior from cardiopulmonary exercise test duration.

Children with prolonged exposure to cyanosis are at increased risk for a sedentary lifestyle.

Clinicians can estimate daily physical activity behavior from cardiopulmonary exercise test duration.

Background/Objectives: Children with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) often exhibit lower levels of physical activity, but whether chronic cyanosis exposure is associated with activity participation is unclear. This cross-sectional study investigated whether the duration of cyanosis prior to surgical correction was associated with submaximal or maximal exercise tolerance or daily habitual physical activity. Methods: Thirty-six children (10–17 years) with transposition of the great arteries (TGA), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), or Fontan physiology were tested with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (Bruce treadmill protocol) and 7 days of accelerometry. Cyanosis duration from birth to surgery was calculated. Results: Only 17% of participants were meeting daily physical activity recommendations. Age and exercise time were the strongest predictors of activity behavior. Children with <2 months of cyanosis had peak VO2 comparable with normative data (105% predicted), while those with longer durations of exposure had reduced submaximal and peak capacity (p < 0.001). The direct effect of days exposed to cyanosis on daily physical activity was not statistically significant (p = 0.55) but the indirect effect via submaximal energy consumption was statistically significant (p = 0.05), suggesting that a longer duration of cyanosis exposure negatively impacted physical activity through its detrimental effect on submaximal exercise capacity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that children with prolonged cyanosis exposure are at higher risk for reduced submaximal exercise capacity, which has a negative impact on daily physical activity participation. Age and exercise test duration can accurately estimate daily physical activity behaviors. Interventions to support these patients require investigation due to their increased risk for morbidities associated with inactive lifestyles.

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