Habitual Physical Activity in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Compared with Age- and Sex- Matched Controls

• Background: Most adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) have reduced aerobic exercise capacity. Their habitual physical activity (PA) level is, however, less well studied. In this study habitual PA level in a cohort of adults with CHD compared to healthy age and gender matched controls was investigated.Methods: Eighty adults with CHD, classed as either “complex” (n=40) or “simple” (n=40), and 42 healthy controls were studied with a combined uniaxial accelerometer and heart rate monitor worn during 4 consecutive days. We analysed 1) the time spent during ≥ moderate/vigorous PA, 2) accelerometer counts/day and 3) to what extent the World Health Organization recommendations on PA were reached.Results: Patients with simple lesions had higher total accelerometer counts/day compared to both patients with complex lesions and controls (simple lesions; median (IQR) 107.7(63.4) vs. complex lesions; 72.8(53.5) and controls; 78.3(49.6), p≤0.001 and p=0.002). Furthermore, no differences in time spent during ≥ moderate-to-vigorous PA was found between patients and controls. In addition 46% of the patients with simple lesions, 55% of the patients with complex lesions and 44% of the controls did not reach the W.H.O.-recommended level of daily PA, but no significant differences between groups were found. There were no differences in achieving recommended PA level between patients in NYHA I vs. NYHA II+III.Conclusions: Patients with CHD follow the same PA-level pattern as the general population. Broad strategies promoting an active lifestyle are needed across the population and especially for patients with complex CHD and impaired NYHA class.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Congenital heart disease

Physical activity

Adult

Accelerometer

Heart rate monitor

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)