Feasibility of implementing cardiopulmonary exercise testing in a regional paediatric cystic fibrosis centre in the UK

Keenan, V., Payne, S., Yonge, C., Saynor, Z., Legg, J. and Connett, G. (2017) Feasibility of implementing cardiopulmonary exercise testing in a regional paediatric cystic fibrosis centre in the UK. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 16 (Supp 1), S127-S127, [254]. (doi:10.1016/S1569-1993(17)30597-0).

Abstract

Objectives: maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is recommended by the ECFS as the gold standard exercise assessment of functionin patients with CF. However, most paediatric centres in the UK do not yetuse CPET routinely for patient exercise assessments or an outcome for
clinical trials. At the Southampton paediatric CF centre we have been using
the modified shuttle walk test (MSWT) for routine exercise testing. Our aim
was to assess the feasibility of implementing CPET in a paediatric
population attending a busy regional CF centre and to compare how
patients tolerated and enjoyed it compared with to the standard MSWT.

Methods: twelve paediatric patients (9–17 y; FEV1%predicted:46–104%)
completed clinical CPET assessments within the outpatient department.
Specifically, a combined ramp incremental and supramaximal verification
protocol to exhaustion was completed. Additionally, patients were asked to
complete a questionnaire pre- and post-CPET testing to gain information
about previously completed exercise tests and how they found CPET.
Results: Ten of the 12 children had previously completed MSWT: 9/10 of
them reported they enjoyed the test and 9/10 felt they worked maximally.
8/10 did not think the MSWT provided useful information about how they
should exercise and 0/12 reported any change in physical activity
behaviours after completing the test. Familaristion and completion of
CPET took ∼45–60 mins. All patients were able to perform CPET and
reported the test was completed in a suitable environment. 9/12 patients
enjoyed the test and 11/12 of the patients felt they were able to work
maximally. 6/12 felt that following their CPET testing they would like some
further information about how to exercise effectively.

Conclusion: CPET is a feasible exercise test to perform with children as part
the annual review in a busy outpatient centre. CPET testing was tolerated
equally as well as the MSWT with most children enjoying the experience.

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Contributors

Author: Z. Saynor

Author: G. Connett

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