Systematic review of the effects of physical exercise training programmes in children and young adults with congenital heart disease

Abstract Background Most patients with congenital heart disease (ConHD) do not perform regular physical exercise. Consensus reports have stated that exercise should be encouraged and regularly performed in these patients, but this is not common practise. We reviewed the literature on actual evidence...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of cardiology 2013-10, Vol.168 (3), p.1779-1787
Main Authors: Duppen, N, Takken, T, Hopman, M.T.E, ten Harkel, A.D.J, Dulfer, K, Utens, E.M.W.J, Helbing, W.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiology. Vascular system
Cardiovascular
Child
Congenital heart disease
Congenital heart diseases. Malformations of the aorta, pulmonary vessels and vena cava
Exercise - physiology
Exercise Therapy - methods
Fontan circulation
Heart
Heart Defects, Congenital - physiopathology
Heart Defects, Congenital - rehabilitation
Humans
Medical sciences
Obstructive lesions
Physical exercise training programme
Physical Fitness - physiology
Program Evaluation
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Teaching. Deontology. Ethics. Legislation
Tetralogy of Fallot
Transposition of great arteries
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Background Most patients with congenital heart disease (ConHD) do not perform regular physical exercise. Consensus reports have stated that exercise should be encouraged and regularly performed in these patients, but this is not common practise. We reviewed the literature on actual evidence for either negative or positive effects of physical exercise training programmes in children and young adults with ConHD. Methods Using the Medline database, we systematically searched for articles on physical exercise training programmes in ConHD. Results A total of 31 articles met all inclusion criteria; in total, 621 subjects (age range 4 to 45 years) were included. Most studies used training programmes with a duration of 12 weeks. On average, the number of training sessions was 3 times per week. In 12 studies, training intensity was set at a percentage of peak heart rate. Outcome measures reported were PeakVO2 , activity levels and muscle strength. Twenty-three studies (72%) found a significant positive change in the main outcome measure after the physical exercise training period. None of the studies reported negative findings related to physical exercise training in ConHD. Cardiac effects have hardly been studied. Conclusion In most studies, participation in a physical exercise training programme was safe and improved fitness in children and young adults with ConHD. We recommend that patients with ConHD participate in physical exercise training. Cardiac effects need to be studied more extensively.
ISSN:0167-5273
1874-1754
DOI:10.1016/j.ijcard.2013.05.086