Open field stress testing: finally an optimal method in young children? Reference values for mobile cardiopulmonary...

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing represents the diagnostic tool for determining cardiopulmonary function. Especially in small children, exercise testing is extremely challenging. To address this problem, field testing has been implemented using small mobile devices. This study aims at using this protocol for developing normal values for cardiopulmonary exercise testing in very young children.

Healthy children aged 4-8 years were recruited. All children were tested according to an outdoor protocol, in which they were instructed to walk, then run slowly, then a little harder and at last run at full speed. Each step lasted for 2 minutes, except the last step, in which the children were instructed to maintain as long as possible.

A total of 104 children (64 female/35 male, mean age 6.6 years) performed outdoor cardiopulmonary exercise testing using a mobile device. Almost all tests were completed successfully (95%). Despite a predominance of female study subjects, anthropometric values did not differ between boys and girls. V̇O₂peak/kg, respiratory exchange ratio, VT1, heart rate at VT1, and time of exercise were also comparable between sexes. Generally, a tendency of higher maximal oxygen uptake could be observed in older children.

Open field mobile cardiopulmonary exercise testing represents a novel approach in very young children. In this study, we were able to determine normal values of maximal oxygen uptake and OUES/kg for 4-8-year-old children. The method is easy to achieve and safe.