Serial Exercise Testing in Children With Known or Suspected Congenital and Acquired Heart Disease: A Narrative Review and Survey of Current Practice.

BACKGROUND

Exercise parameters can be altered in children with congenital heart disease or acquired heart disease compared with children with normal hearts. Exercise testing has proven a useful tool to predict patient outcomes and even the need for reintervention in several cardiovascular disease processes. There are established guidelines for serial exercise stress testing in adults with congenital heart disease, but corollary guidelines do not exist for the pediatric population.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

A narrative literature review was completed. Evidence was ranked by a 4-point scale as outlined by the American College of Sports Medicine evidence categories. A survey was sent to experts in pediatric exercise physiology across the country regarding their current testing practices for 26 unique congenital heart disease or known or suspected acquired heart disease lesions. Survey questions were related to the frequency of testing, the age at which exercise testing is started, and if the frequency of testing is altered by a patient presenting with symptoms. Our literature search yielded 122 relevant studies pertaining to exercise stress testing in pediatric heart disease. We received 59 responses to our survey from 33 unique institutions in the United States and Canada.

CONCLUSIONS

Twenty-one summaries were provided regarding exercise stress testing in pediatric patients with heart disease. Multicentered or national stress testing registries may allow for adequate sample sizes of rare pediatric diseases to allow for development of improved guidelines regarding the type and timing of stress testing.