PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sinead Callaghan
AU  - Margaret Louise Morrison
AU  - Pascal P McKeown
AU  - Christopher Tennyson
AU  - Andrew J Sands
AU  - Brian McCrossan
AU  - Brian Grant
AU  - Brian G Craig
AU  - Frank A Casey
TI  - Exercise prescription improves exercise tolerance in young children with CHD: a randomised clinical trial
AID  - 10.1136/openhrt-2021-001599
DP  - 2021 May 01
TA  - Open Heart
PG  - e001599
VI  - 8
IP  - 1
4099  - http://openheart.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001599.short
4100  - http://openheart.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001599.full
SO  - Open Heart2021 May 01; 8
AB  - Objective The main objective of this study was to ascertain if a structured intervention programme can improve the biophysical health of young children with congenital heart disease (CHD). The primary end point was an increase in measureable physical activity levels following the intervention.Methods Patients aged 5–10 years with CHD were identified and invited to participate. Participants completed a baseline biophysical assessment, including a formal exercise stress test and daily activity monitoring using an accelerometer. Following randomisation, the intervention group attended a 1 day education session and received an individual written exercise plan to be continued over the 4-month intervention period. The control group continued with their usual level of care. After 4 months, all participants were reassessed in the same manner as at baseline.Results One hundred and sixty-three participants (mean age 8.4 years) were recruited, 100 of whom were male (61.3%). At baseline, the majority of the children were active with good exercise tolerance. The cyanotic palliated subgroup participants, however, were found to have lower levels of daily activity and significantly limited peak exercise performance compared with the other subgroups. One hundred and fifty-two participants (93.2%) attended for reassessment. Following the intervention, there was a significant improvement in peak exercise capacity in the intervention group. There was also a trend towards increased daily activity levels.Conclusion Overall physical activity levels are well preserved in the majority of young children with CHD. A structured intervention programme significantly increased peak exercise capacity and improved attitudes towards positive lifestyle changes.De-identified participant data in form of Excel and SPSS data sheets are available from the research team on reasonable request. This is available from the first author Dr Sinead Callaghan (scallaghan@doctors.org.uk).