Cardiorespiratory fitness, respiratory function and hemodynamic responses to maximal cycle ergometer exercise test in girls and boys aged 9-11 years: the PANIC Study.

Lintu, Niina; Viitasalo, Anna; Tompuri, Tuomo; Veijalainen, Aapo; Hakulinen, Mikko; Laitinen, Tomi; Savonen, Kai; Lakka, Timo

Purpose: We aimed to provide comprehensive data on and reference values for cardiorespiratory fitness, respiratory function and hemodynamic responses during and after maximal cycle ergometer test in children. Methods: The participants were a population sample of 140 children (69 girls) aged 9-11 years. Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured from pre-exercise rest to the end of recovery. Respiratory gases were measured directly by the breath-by-breath method. Peak workload, HR changes, peak oxygen uptake ( VO), peak oxygen pulse (O pulse), peak respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and the lowest ratio of ventilation and carbon dioxide output (VE/ VCO) during the exercise test in girls and boys were presented according to their distributions in 5 categories. Results: HR decreased more during 4-min recovery in boys than in girls (76 vs. 67 beats/min, p < 0.001), whereas SBP decrease was similar in boys and girls (30 vs. 22 mmHg, p = 0.66). Boys had a higher peak VO per weight [51.9 vs. 47.6 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001] and per lean mass [67.3 vs. 63.0 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001] than girls. Peak O pulse per lean mass was higher in boys than in girls (0.34 vs. 0.31 ml/kg/beat, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the lowest VE/ VCO during the test between boys and girls (28 vs. 29, p = 0.18). Conclusions: The indicators of cardiorespiratory fitness were better in boys than in girls. These data enable the evaluation of cardiorespiratory function during and after maximal exercise test and the detection of children with abnormal values.

EXERCISE physiology; CARDIOPULMONARY system; HEMODYNAMICS; HEART beat measurement; BLOOD pressure measurement

European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2015, Vol 115, Issue 2, p235

1439-6319

Academic Journal

10.1007/s00421-014-3013-8