[Exercise capacity in children with mild sleep-disordered breathing]

While the association between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and low physical activity has been reported in children, little information is available on the impact of SDB on exercise capacity. The aim of this study was to assess exercise capacity in children with SDB in order to estimate the relevance of exercise training intervention.

Twelve young patients with suspected SDB matched with 11 presumably healthy subjects of same age range (aged 13±0.5yr) were investigated. Both groups underwent physical activity assessment, full night polysomnography, incremental and all-out exercise tests.

The respiratory disturbance index was higher in the patient group (4.6±4.7 vs 0.8±0.6; P=0.02). Children with SDB had lower VO₂max (32.0±9.9 vs 42.3±5.7mL.kg^-1.min^-1, P=0.007) and lower peak power (8.6±3.4 vs 11.8±1.9W.kg^-1, P=0.009). A significant correlation between VO₂max and weekly physical activity only was found in the SDB group (P=0.005).

Mild SDB may be associated with impairment of both aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacity in children, related to poor physical activity. Exercise training could bring clinical benefit in this population.