Cardiovascular Physiology and Disease in Youth

Author Department

Pediatrics

Document Type

Article, Peer-reviewed

Publication Date

2-2016

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Public health guidelines recommend patients with congenital heart disease to exercise. Studies have shown that patients with congenital heart disease can improve physical exercise capacity. The effect of training on regional ventricular performance has hardly been studied. We performed a pilot study to assess whether an exercise training program would result in adverse changes of regional ventricular performance in patients with corrected tetralogy of Fallot.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Multicenter prospective randomized controlled pilot study in patients with tetralogy of Fallot aged 10-15 years. A 12-week standardized aerobic dynamic exercise training program (3 one-hour sessions per week) was used. Pre- and posttraining cardiopulmonary exercise tests, MRI, and echocardiography, including tissue-Doppler imaging, were performed. Patients were randomized to the exercise group (n = 28) or control group (n = 20). One patient in the exercise group dropped out. Change in tissue-Doppler imaging parameters was similar in the exercise group and control group.

CONCLUSIONS:

This randomized controlled pilot study provides preliminary data suggesting that regional ventricular performance is well maintained during 3-month aerobic dynamic exercise training in children and young adults with repair tetralogy of Fallot. This information might help patients adhere to current public health guidelines.

PMID

26887607

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