BACKGROUND: Adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are often restricted from physical activity and sports participation, which may have adverse effects. OBJECTIVES: To determine the amount of physical activity, type of sports participation, and reasons for sports restrictions, and to evaluate the effect of sports participation on quality of life (QoL) in a cohort of patients with CHD. METHODS: Individuals with CHD aged 13-30 years were recruited at outpatient visits or via mailings. They completed a questionnaire addressing physical activity, sports participation, sports restrictions, and QoL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory). We also reviewed the patient's medical record. RESULTS: Of the 177 patients who responded (mean age 20 years), 31% have mild CHD, 40% have moderate CHD, and 29% have severe CHD. In the cohort, 52% participate in competitive sports, 25% recreational sports, and 23% no sports. Among patients with severe CHD, 29% participate in competitive sports that would be restricted by published guidelines (36th Bethesda Conference). After controlling for age, sex, CHD severity, residual hemodynamic disease, and comorbidities, participation in competitive sports and increased frequency of physical activity are independently associated with a higher QoL (P = .003 and P = .001, respectively). In an identical model, competitive sports participation and frequency of physical activity are associated with higher maximum predicted oxygen consumption (VO2 ) (n = 40; P = .002 and .02) and slightly lower body mass index (BMI) (P = .02 and .01). All findings were similar when analyses were stratified by recruitment method. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CHD commonly participate in competitive sports, and such participation is associated with higher QoL, improved exercise capacity, and lower BMI.
BACKGROUND: Adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are often restricted from physical activity and sports participation, which may have adverse effects. OBJECTIVES: To determine the amount of physical activity, type of sports participation, and reasons for sports restrictions, and to evaluate the effect of sports participation on quality of life (QoL) in a cohort of patients with CHD. METHODS: Individuals with CHD aged 13-30 years were recruited at outpatient visits or via mailings. They completed a questionnaire addressing physical activity, sports participation, sports restrictions, and QoL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory). We also reviewed the patient's medical record. RESULTS: Of the 177 patients who responded (mean age 20 years), 31% have mild CHD, 40% have moderate CHD, and 29% have severe CHD. In the cohort, 52% participate in competitive sports, 25% recreational sports, and 23% no sports. Among patients with severe CHD, 29% participate in competitive sports that would be restricted by published guidelines (36th Bethesda Conference). After controlling for age, sex, CHD severity, residual hemodynamic disease, and comorbidities, participation in competitive sports and increased frequency of physical activity are independently associated with a higher QoL (P = .003 and P = .001, respectively). In an identical model, competitive sports participation and frequency of physical activity are associated with higher maximum predicted oxygen consumption (VO2 ) (n = 40; P = .002 and .02) and slightly lower body mass index (BMI) (P = .02 and .01). All findings were similar when analyses were stratified by recruitment method. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with CHD commonly participate in competitive sports, and such participation is associated with higher QoL, improved exercise capacity, and lower BMI.
Authors: Gali S Kolt; Barbara R Ferdman; Jessica Y Choi; Janine Henson; Van-Trang Nguyen; Emily A Farkas; Vinicius Jds Nina; Rachel Vah Nina; Renzo O CiFuentes; William F Zeman; John E Connett; Aubyn Marath Journal: Cardiol Young Date: 2020-02 Impact factor: 1.093
Authors: Thomas Zoller; Maria Antonia Prioli; Maria Clemente; Mara Pilati; Camilla Sandrini; Giovanni Battista Luciani; Marco Deganello Saccomani; Benjamim Ficial; Marcella Gaffuri; Giorgio Piacentini; Lucia Calciano; Angelo Pietrobelli Journal: Children (Basel) Date: 2022-06-14
Authors: Jannos Siaplaouras; Claudia Niessner; Paul C Helm; Annika Jahn; Markus Flemming; Michael S Urschitz; Elisabeth Sticker; Hashim Abdul-Khaliq; Ulrike M Bauer; Christian Apitz Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2020-04-30 Impact factor: 3.418
Authors: Isaac Wamala; Russell Gongwer; Kaitlin Doherty-Schmeck; Maria Jorina; Anne Betzner; Bistra Zheleva; Kimberlee Gauvreau; Christopher W Baird; Kathy Jenkins Journal: Glob Heart Date: 2021-10-21