Development of a Pediatric Cardiology Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Database

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) is crucial for managing pediatric cardiology patients and assessing cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).
• Existing large-scale, standardized CPET databases for pediatric populations are lacking, limiting comprehensive understanding of CRF in these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a standardized CPET database for pediatric cardiology patients.
• To describe the data available at a single institution.
• To discuss the challenges and opportunities in creating such a database.

Main Methods:

• Compiled CPET data from 1993 to present at an urban pediatric hospital into a research database.
• Included demographic, clinical, and CPET outcome variables; calculated additional variables for analysis.
• Coded patient diagnoses and established quality assurance protocols for future contributions and collaborations.

Main Results:

• The database contains 10,319 CPETs, predominantly from patients aged 6-18 years, with 56.1% males.
• Major diagnostic categories include structurally normal hearts, congenital heart disease, electrophysiological abnormalities, heart transplant/cardiomyopathy, and other diagnoses.
• The Bruce Protocol was the most frequently used method.

Conclusions:

• This standardized database provides a foundation for representative cardiorespiratory fitness comparisons in pediatric cardiology.
• It establishes a framework for future CRF registries, enhancing clinical decision-making for pediatric patients undergoing CPET.
• Addresses the historical lack of adequate interpretive resources for CPET in non-representative clinical populations.