Abstract
Background. Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are observed to have diminished lung function, nutritional status, and aerobic exercise capacity. All three parameters are related to prognosis and survival. However, there is little information regarding these parameters in prepubertal patients. Methods. Our study groups consisted of sixteen patients with CF (7 girls) and 99 healthy volunteers (52 girls). Subjects performed spirometry and a progressive exercise test to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer. Leg muscle strength was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Physical activity was examined using the modifiable activity questionnaire and accelerometer. Results. Nutritional status was similar between groups (BMI—boys control versus CF 18.5 versus 17.9, girls control versus CF 19.5 versus 17.4). Girls with CF were significantly smaller and lighter than controls. Lung function was significantly reduced in CF groups (FEV1—boys control versus CF 91% versus 84%, girls control versus CF 90% versus 82%). Patients with CF were as active and as fit as their healthy controls. Conclusion. In this group of prepubertal children with CF, nutritional status was comparable to healthy children of the same age. Their aerobic exercise tolerance and peripheral muscle strength were also relatively well preserved despite significantly lower lung function.
1. Introduction
Cystic Fibrosis, an autosomal recessive disorder, is the most common lethal genetic disease affecting Caucasians [1]. Patients with CF are observed to have diminished lung function, nutritional status, and aerobic exercise capacity. All three parameters are related to overall survival. Indeed a higher VO2max has been reported to be a marker for longer survival in both children and adults with CF [2, 3]. In healthy children, maximum physical performance is related to both body mass (body weight and fat free mass) and cardiopulmonary capacity. It has been suggested that, in children with CF, poor nutritional status and decreased muscle mass may lead to exercise limitation and also that pulmonary function is significantly related to exercise tolerance when FEV1 is significantly diminished [4, 5]. In addition to deterioration in lung function, children with CF have been shown to have lower muscle strength and physical activity (PA) levels when compared to healthy control subjects [6–8].
To date, the information regarding these parameters specific to prepubertal children with CF is lacking. We hypothesised that prepubertal children with CF would have lower aerobic exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength and reduced PA when compared to healthy, age-matched controls.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Subjects
Our subjects were recruited from a list of patients regularly attending the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic of the National Children’s Hospital in Dublin. In total, 24 patients (14 boys, 10 girls) were in the desired age range of 10–12 years. Four patients were excluded due to MRSA, and a further four were excluded, as they were unable to perform a reliable exercise test. Our final study group consisted of 16 patients with CF (7 girls). Our control group consisted of 99 healthy volunteers (52 girls). They were recruited for another study and came from randomly selected primary schools in the Dublin area. No subjects were taking oral steroids at the time of testing. Genotype of the CF group consisted of homozygous for and heterozygous for . Twelve children were pancreatic insufficient. Approval for the study was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of SJH/AMNCH.
2.2. Anthropometry
Height was measured using a wall-mounted stadiometer (Holtain Ltd., UK). Weight was measured using an electronic scale (Seca Corporation, CA, USA). Subjects were minimally clothed and barefoot for both measurements. Lean body mass was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis using a Tanita lean body mass scales (Tanita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan).
2.3. Lung Function and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
Spirometry was performed prior to exercise using the spirometry module of the Vmax Encore exercise system (VIASYS Healthcare). The exercise test was performed on a cycle ergometer (Ergoselect 200P, Ergoline, Germany). Once the subject was seated comfortably on the ergometer, a 3-lead ECG (Sensormedics) and a pulse oximeter (Nonin 8600, USA) with finger probe were attached. For the duration of the test, subjects wore a nose clip and breathed through a mouthpiece connected to a mass flow sensor. This allowed respiratory variables to be measured and recorded on a breath by breath basis. All equipment and systems were calibrated prior to testing according to specific protocols. Raw data from each test was imported into a Microsoft Excel worksheet. Resting, warmup, and VO2max values were calculated by taking a 20-second average at the end of the appropriate resting or exercise period.
The exercise test began with a 2-minute rest period. Subjects then began to cycle at an initial load of 20 watts for a 1-minute warm-up period, followed by a continuous ramp increase in workload of 15 or 20 watts/minute. Subjects exercised for as long as possible against the ever-increasing workload. Once the subject reached exhaustion, the workload was reduced to the warm-up level of 20 watts for a further 1-minute recovery period. During exercise, subjects were asked to maintain a constant pedalling speed of between 60 and 80 rpm and this was displayed in digital format in front them. All subjects were verbally encouraged to continue cycling for as long as possible.
2.4. Muscle Strength
Leg muscle strength was measured using the Biodex III Isokinetic Dynamometer (Biodex Medical, USA). The knee flexors and extensors of the dominant leg were tested at three speeds of movement (60°/sec, 90°/sec, and 180°/sec). Children were seated for the test with belts attached around the chest, waist, and leg to isolate the muscle group being tested. The test required the child to kick out against the dynamometer arm from a position of 90° flexion to full extension and to immediately pull back to the starting position. Five repetitions were performed at speeds of 60°/sec and 90°/sec and thirty repetitions at 180°/sec. There was a 30-second rest period between each set of repetitions. Isokinetic testing permits examination of muscle strength throughout a range of movement. It is accepted as a valid and reproducible method of assessing muscle strength and is considered the gold standard in orthopaedics and sports medicine.
2.5. Physical Activity
Physical activity was measured both subjectively, using a modification of the modifiable activity questionnaire (MAQ) [9] and objectively using a Triaxial Accelerometer (RT3 research tracker, Stayhealthy). The MAQ required children, along with their parents, to list all organised activities they participated in on a regular basis, noting months per year, days per week, and minutes per day spent at each activity. Results were summed and expressed as an average of total hours of activity per day. The relative intensity of each activity was also estimated by multiplying the hours per day by the metabolic cost (MET) of that activity [10], and results were expressed as total MET-h/day. The RT3 tracker measures acceleration in three individual planes and integrates it into one value, the vector magnitude. The accelerometer was worn for three consecutive days. Results were analysed according to the number of activity counts per minute as follows; time spent inactive (0–99 cpm), light activity (100–970 cpm), moderate activity (971–2333 cpm), and vigorous activity (>2334 cpm) [11]. Results were averaged over the three days and expressed as percentage of total time worn.
2.6. Statistics
Statistics were performed using MINITAB 14. Data was tested for normality using an Anderson-Darling test. An unpaired -test was used for comparison between normally distributed data. Significance for all tests was set at .
3. Results
Table 1 shows anthropometry and lung function results for controls and children with CF. Within both groups, boys and girls were of similar age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Boys with CF were of similar age, height, weight, BMI, and LBM compared to control boys. Girls with CF were significantly shorter and lighter than control girls; however, LBM and BMI values were not significantly different. Lung function (FEV1) was significantly reduced in both CF groups compared to their controls. FEV1 ranged from 64 to 91% predicted in girls with CF and from 72 to 97% predicted in boys with CF. In relation to our CF centre as a whole, we have 66 patients capable of performing lung function. We found no significant difference in mean FEV1 in our CF study group compared to our CF centre as a whole (mean FEV1 ± SEM, CF study group: 83% ± 2.4 versus CF centre: 80% ± 2.7, ).
All subjects completed the progressive exercise test to exhaustion. Mean heart rate (HR) and respiratory quotient (RQ) in all groups were greater than 185 bpm and 1.10, respectively. Each subject also showed physical signs of exhaustion towards the end of the test, indicating a maximal effort was achieved. Results for exercise and muscle strength tests are shown in Table 2. While VO2max was significantly lower in control girls compared to control boys, there was no such gender difference in the CF group. Boys and girls with CF were as fit as their healthy controls with no significant differences in VO2max. Muscle strength was significantly lower in control girls compared to control boys at the highest speed of movement (E180°/sec and F180°/sec). There was no significant difference in muscle strength between control and CF groups.
The modifiable activity questionnaire (MAQ) showed control boys to be significantly more active than control girls (Table 3). Boys and girls with CF were equally active and were also as active as their corresponding controls.
4. Discussion
This study found that, compared to healthy age-matched controls, aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and physical activity (PA) levels in this group of children with CF were relatively well preserved despite a significant deterioration in lung function.
Mean VO2max in our control group was slightly higher than previous studies examining exercise capacity in healthy children of this age [12–14], indicating a relatively fit group of children. In keeping with the literature to date, a significant gender difference in VO2max was seen in the control group, with higher fitness levels in boys compared to girls. Several studies have examined VO2max in children with CF; however, the age range tends to be large (7–18 years). Relatively few studies have looked at VO2max specifically in prepubertal children with CF. Stanghelle et al. [15] reported a mean VO2max of 48.6 mL/kg/min in a group of 10 prepubertal children with CF. While more recently Selvadurai et al. [16] reported a mean VO2max value of 41.7 mL/kg/min in a similar but larger group (). The fitness levels of our CF group lay in between these two studies at 44.9 mL/kg/min with no significant difference between boys and girls.
In comparison to healthy control subjects, aerobic fitness of our boys and girls with CF was not significantly different. Previous studies comparing the exercise capacity of children with CF to healthy controls have found VO2max to be significantly lower in CF even when corrected for body weight [6, 17]. However, in these studies, BMI was significantly reduced in CF groups suggesting poor nutritional status. In our study, boys and girls with CF had a similar nutritional status (BMP and LBM) when compared to their healthy controls. This favourable nutritional status could help to account for the similar VO2max values reported here.
While aerobic exercise capacity compared favourably between CF groups and controls, lung function did not. It has been shown previously that, in adults with CF, measurements of lung function correlate poorly with exercise capacity as measured by VO2max [18]. In children with CF, de Meers et al. [4] reported a significant correlation between lung function and VO2max when FEV1 was <80% predicted. However, Cropp et al. [5] reported a significant correlation only when lung function was <60% predicted. In this study, FEV1 ranged from 72 to 97% predicted in boys with CF and 64–91% predicted in girls with CF, and we found no relationship between lung function and VO2max in either CF group.
Physical activity is an important factor in the growth and development of children, and maintaining high levels of PA is especially important in the management of CF. Studies have shown that, in children with CF, those with more active lifestyles have significantly greater aerobic capacity, quality of life and nutrition, and significantly lower disease severity than children with lower activity levels [16, 19, 20]. Relatively few studies have compared PA levels in children with CF to healthy controls. Selvadurai et al. [16] and Nixon et al. [6] both reported no significant differences in PA levels, but the latter reported patients with CF spending significantly less time at vigorous activities. In the present study, when reported both subjectively by questionnaire and objectively by accelerometer, patients with CF were shown to be as active as their healthy controls, in terms of both overall activity levels and time spent at vigorous activities. The finding that our patients with CF were as active as our controls, even when lung function was so significantly reduced, may help to explain their well-maintained aerobic capacity.
Muscle strength was an important factor to consider when comparing exercise tolerance between our two groups. Previous studies looking at muscle strength in children with CF are limited. Selvadurai et al. [8], using a similar protocol to ours, examined muscle strength in 13-year-old boys with CF and found a significant reduction in leg muscle strength compared to healthy controls. Similarly, Selvadurai et al. [8] examined muscle strength in young female athletes with CF aged 14 years. Again they found significantly lower values in CF versus healthy controls despite similar VO2max values. In our study, muscle strength was similar between children with CF and their healthy controls at all levels of resistance. Perhaps the young age of our study group, their relatively good lung function, along with their high PA levels could help explain their well-maintained muscle strength. One of the limitations recognised in this study is the limited sample size, however, in a specific cohort such as this recruiting large numbers can be difficult.
In conclusion, we found in a small group of prepubertal children with CF that nutritional status and physical activity levels were comparable to healthy children of the same age. Aerobic exercise capacity and muscle strength were also relatively well preserved despite a significant reduction in lung function.
Disclosure
Data presented at the 22nd Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Orlando, Florida, 23rd–25th October 2008 and the Irish Thoracic Society annual scientific meeting, Dublin, Ireland, 8th–10th November 2007.