Peak Oxygen Consumption Scaled to Body Composition Is Associated With Mortality and Morbidity in People With a Fontan Circulation.

Background: Peak oxygen consumption (peak O) is traditionally scaled by body mass, but it is most appropriately scaled by fat-free mass. However, it is unknown whether peak O scaled by fat-free mass is associated with mortality and morbidity in people with a Fontan circulation. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between different expressions of peak O with mortality and morbidity in people with a Fontan circulation.

Percentage Predicted Peak Oxygen Consumption in People With Fontan Circulation: A Rapid Systematic Scoping Review and Validation Study.

Background: Peak oxygen consumption (peak ) is routinely measured in people who have congenital heart disease and is reported as a percentage of predicted value, based upon age- and sex-matched normative reference values (NRVs). This study aimed to identify which NRVs are being used, assess whether NRVs are being applied appropriately, and evaluate if recommended NRVs are valid when applied to people with congenital heart disease.

Methods And Results: A systematic scoping review identified studies that reported peak percentage of predicted value in people with congenital heart disease.

A new protocol for a single-stage combined cardiopulmonary and echocardiography exercise test: a pilot study.

Aims: The value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) in managing cardiac disease is well known, but no standard CPET-ESE protocol is currently recommended. This pilot study aims to compare feasibility and cardiac function responses between a new high-intensity single-stage combined test (CPET-hiESE) and a standard maximal ESE (smESE).

Methods And Results: After screening and maximal CPET, all volunteers ( = 21) underwent three ESE modalities: (i) based on the gas exchange threshold (hiESE-GET, 40% of peak-GET, 6 min), (ii) based on heart rate (HR) (hiESE-HR, 80% of peak HR, 6 min), and (iii) smESE (85% of predicted peak HR for age, 3 min).

Process evaluation of school-based high-intensity interval training interventions for children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Several systematic reviews have been published to investigate the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in schools. However, there has been limited attention given to understanding the functioning of the intervention processes, which is of paramount importance for interpreting and translating the intervention effectiveness. The aim of this systematic review is to determine the extent to which process evaluation is measured in school-based HIIT interventions and to explore the effects of process evaluation and intervention characteristics on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), body composition, muscular strength, and blood pressure.

The Role of Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Predicting Mortality and Morbidity in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is now routinely included in cardiac evaluations, but its role in predicting mortality and morbidity in congenital heart disease (CHD) is not well described. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the prognostic value of STE in patients with CHD.

Methods: The EMBASE, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched from inception to January 2023 for terms related to all CHD, STE, and prognosis.

Parental recommendations and exercise attitudes in congenital hearts.

Background: Children and young people with CHD benefit from regular physical activity. Parents are reported as facilitators and barriers to their children's physical activity. The aim of this study was to explore parental factors, child factors, and their clinical experience on physical activity participation in young people with CHD.

Scaling Peak Oxygen Consumption for Body Size and Composition in People With a Fontan Circulation.

Background Peak oxygen consumption (peak ) is traditionally divided ("ratio-scaled") by body mass (BM) for clinical interpretation. Yet, it is unknown whether ratio-scaling to BM can produce a valid size-independent expression of peak in people with a Fontan circulation. Furthermore, people with a Fontan circulation have deficits in lean mass, and it is unexplored whether using different measures of body composition may improve scaling validity.

Normal reference values for aerobic fitness in cystic fibrosis: a scoping review.

Objective: The importance of aerobic fitness (VO) in cystic fibrosis (CF) is well established, and regular exercise testing is recommended. To standardise VO, a 'percentage of predicted' (%) derived from normative reference values (NRV), as promoted by the 2015 European Cystic Fibrosis Society Exercise Working Group (ECFS EWG), can be reported. However, the NRVs used in CF and their relative frequency is unknown.

The efficacy of virtual reality interventions compared with conventional physiotherapy in improving the upper limb motor function of children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

Purpose: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the commonest motor disability affecting children. This study reviewed the evidence for virtual reality (VR) intervention compared with conventional physiotherapy in upper limb function of children with CP.

Methods: Searches were undertaken in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PEDro, CENTRAL, Web of Science, CINAHL, ERIC, ICTRP, EU-CTR, ClinicalTrials.

Exercise training in paediatric congenital heart disease: fit for purpose?

Exercise and physical activity (PA) have been shown to be effective, safe and feasible in both healthy children and children with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, implementing exercise training as an intervention is still not routine in children with CHD despite considerable evidence of health benefits and well-being. Understanding how children with CHD can safely participate in exercise can boost participation in PA and subsequently reduce inactivity-related diseases.

The Role of Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Common Inherited Cardiomyopathies in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) has gained importance in the evaluation of adult inherited cardiomyopathies, but its utility in children is not well characterized. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the role of STE in pediatric inherited cardiomyopathies. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, CENTRAL and CINAHL databases were searched up to May 2020, for terms related to inherited cardiomyopathies and STE.

Physical activity interventions for people with congenital heart disease.

Background: Congenital heart disease (ConHD) affects approximately 1% of all live births. People with ConHD are living longer due to improved medical intervention and are at risk of developing non-communicable diseases. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is reduced in people with ConHD, who deteriorate faster compared to healthy people.