Key result
Adults with congenital heart disease had impaired exercise capacity, achieving only 58.7% (men) and 66.3% (women) of healthy reference values, with 20-25% not meeting physical activity recommendations.
Why the study?
This study aimed to assess exercise capacity, physical activity, and health-related quality of life in a broad and unselected group of adults with CHD.
Cross-Sectional (n=747)
No
Absolute Event Rate: 62.2% vs 100%
Adults with congenital heart disease have significantly impaired exercise capacity and lower health-related quality of life compared to healthy references, emphasizing the need for individualized exercise testing and prescription.
Impaired exercise capacity in CHD adults merits clinical attention; hypothesis-generating for prospective intervention trials.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess exercise capacity, physical activity, and health-related quality of life within a broad and unselected group of adults with CHD. DESIGN: From April 2009 to February 2014, 1310 patients were assessed for suitability to participate in this single-centre cross-sectional study. Seven hundred and forty-seven (57%) patients were included, performed a submaximal bicycle test, and answered questionnaires regarding physical activity and health-related quality of life. Exercise capacity, physical activity, and health-related quality of life were compared with reference values and correlations were studied. RESULTS: The exercise capacities of men and women with CHD were 58.7 and 66.3%, respectively, of reference values. Approximately, 20-25% of the patients did not achieve the recommended amount of physical activity. In addition, men scored significantly less points on 7 out of 10 scales of health-related quality of life and women in 6 out of 10 scales, compared with reference values. The strongest correlation was between exercise capacity and the Short Form-36 (physical function). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise capacity was impaired in all adults with CHD, including those with less complicated CHD. One-quarter of the patients did not achieve the recommended levels of physical activity. Exercise tests followed by individualised exercise prescriptions may be offered to all patients with CHD aiming to increase exercise capacity, levels of physical activity, improve health-related quality of life, and reduce the risk of acquired life-style diseases.
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Kröönström et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in Congenital heart disease (n=747). Congenital heart disease vs. Healthy reference values was evaluated on Submaximal exercise capacity as a percentage of reference values. Adults with congenital heart disease had impaired exercise capacity, achieving only 58.7% (men) and 66.3% (women) of healthy reference values, with 20-25% not meeting physical activity recommendations.
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