Abstract
Exercise capacity in school-aged children after surgical correction of congenital heart defects in infancy
Department of Clinical Physiotherapy, Jêdrzej Œniadecki University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, Poland
Department of Physiology, Jêdrzej Œniadecki University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, Poland
Department of Pediatric Cardiology and General Pediatrics, Medical University of Warsaw; Doctoral School, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, St. Adalbert’s Hospital (COPERNICUS PL), Gdansk-Zaspa, Poland
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Centre, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
Kardiochirurgia i Torakochirurgia Polska 2026; 23 (3): 235-240
Introduction
Despite successful early surgical correction of congenital heart defects, reduced exercise capacity may be observed in children. Functional assessment using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) enables an objective evaluation of cardiovascular and respiratory responses to exercise.
Aim
The aim of the study was to assess the physical performance of children in the long-term period after surgical correction of ventricular and atrial septal defects (VSD/ASD) compared with healthy peers.
Meterial and methods
The study included 45 children aged 9–11 years: 20 after surgical correction of VSD/ASD and 25 healthy controls. Exercise capacity was evaluated using a modified Godfrey protocol. Parameters analysed included WRpeak, VO2peak, VEpeak, METpeak, VCO2peak, RERpeak, HRpeak, and VO2-pulsepeak. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test, with a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results
Children after surgical correction of congenital heart defects achieved significantly lower WRpeak, VO2peak, VEpeak, and METpeak values compared with controls (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in RERpeak, indicating comparable maximal effort levels. When expressed as a percentage of predicted values, the operated group demonstrated lower physical performance and impaired cardiopulmonary adaptation to exercise.
Conclusions
Despite successful early anatomical correction, children after surgical repair of congenital heart defects exhibit decreased exercise capacity compared with healthy peers. These findings emphasize the need for long-term monitoring and the introduction of tailored physical rehabilitation programmes as part of postoperative care to improve physical fitness.
Keywords
congenital heart defects, exercise capacity, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, cardiac rehabilitation, paediatric population
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