Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method
08:44

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method

Published on: February 2, 2024

Physiologic decrease of ventilatory response to exercise in the second decade of life in healthy children

Alessandro Giardini1, Dolf Odendaal, Sachin Khambadkone

  • 1Cardiorespiratory Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JH, UK. alessandro5574@iol.it

American Heart Journal
|June 7, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The ventilatory response to exercise, measured by the minute ventilation to carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) slope, decreases with age in children. Normative percentiles are essential for interpreting these exercise test results in adolescents.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is vital for assessing children with congenital heart defects.
  • Interpreting CPET results requires normative data, which are lacking for ventilatory responses in this population.
  • There is a need for age-specific reference values for the ventilatory response to exercise in pediatric cardiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish normative data for the ventilatory response to exercise in healthy children.
  • To investigate the relationship between age, sex, and the VE/VCO2 slope in children.
  • To provide gender-specific percentiles for VE/VCO2 slope to aid clinical interpretation.

Main Methods:

  • Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed on 243 healthy children (age 13.2 ± 2.1 years).
  • The minute ventilation to carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) slope was calculated using data until respiratory compensation point (VE/VCO2RC) and peak exercise (VE/VCO2Peak).
  • Gender-specific percentiles for VE/VCO2 slopes were derived from the study cohort.

Main Results:

  • The VE/VCO2Peak slope averaged 28.2 ± 3.7, and VE/VCO2RC slope averaged 24.5 ± 3.0.
  • A progressive decrease in both VE/VCO2 slopes was observed between ages 10 and 16 years, more pronounced in boys.
  • Normal spirometry confirmed the absence of pulmonary limitations in the study group.

Conclusions:

  • The VE/VCO2 slope declines with age during the second decade of life.
  • Absolute VE/VCO2 slope values are less informative than age- and gender-specific percentiles for interpretation.
  • These findings provide crucial normative data for evaluating ventilatory responses in pediatric exercise testing.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Assessment of Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume, Membrane Diffusing Capacity, and Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Anastomoses During Exercise07:09

Assessment of Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume, Membrane Diffusing Capacity, and Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Anastomoses During Exercise

Published on: February 20, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Factors Affecting Respiration01:24

Factors Affecting Respiration

Respiration is a crucial physiological function involving exchanging oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) between an organism and its environment. Various factors can impact this essential process:
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
Acute Respiratory Failure-II01:21

Acute Respiratory Failure-II

Type I Respiratory Failure, or hypoxemic respiratory failure, occurs when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood falls below 60 mmHg while breathing room air without a corresponding increase in arterial carbon dioxide levels (PaCO2). This condition highlights a significant impairment in the lungs' capacity to oxygenate the blood.
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation01:25

Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation refers to a higher-than-normal rate and depth of breathing, often associated with anxiety attacks. This excessive breathing surpasses the body's need to expel CO2, leading to a condition known as hypocapnia - an unusually low level of carbon dioxide in the blood. Hypocapnia can constrict cerebral blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain, which may result in dizziness or fainting. Early signs include tingling and muscle spasms in the hands and face, caused by falling...
Respiratory Volumes and Capacities01:22

Respiratory Volumes and Capacities

The respiratory system is responsible for the intake of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide from the body. Respiratory volumes describe the volume of air in the lungs at different phases of the respiratory cycle. Tidal volume is the air breathed in and out during normal, quiet breathing. Inspiratory reserve volume is the air that can be forcefully inspired beyond the tidal volume. In contrast, expiratory reserve volume refers to the air that can be expelled from the lungs after a normal...
Respiratory Capacities01:24

Respiratory Capacities

Respiratory capacities are crucial indicators of lung function, representing the maximum amount of air an individual's respiratory system can handle during various breathing phases.
One key metric is the Inspiratory Capacity (IC), which represents the maximum amount of air that can be inhaled with full effort. IC is calculated by summing the tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume, typically ranging from 2.4 to 3.6 liters.
The Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) represents the air in the...