Exercise capacity in girls with Turner syndrome

Data on exercise capacity of pediatric patients with Turner syndrome (TS) is scarce. This study was aimed at evaluating the cardiopulmonary response to exercise in girls with TS aged 8 to 18 years. In this prospective, single-center case-control cohort study girls with TS were matched to healthy controls based on gender, age, and weight. All girls performed a maximal incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test (CEPT) on an electromagnetically braked cycle ergometer. Key variables measured included peak oxygen uptake (VO₂ peak) and maximal workload both expressed as percentages of predicted values based on gender, age, and weight. O₂ pulse is expressed in milliliters per heartbeat. Twenty-one girls with TS were included and matched with 21 control patients. Girls with TS demonstrated significantly lower VO₂ peak values (% of predicted) compared to controls (mean difference: - 10.3%, p = 0.014). Similarly, maximal workload was significantly reduced in the TS group (mean difference: - 17.6%, p = 0.002). A general linear model confirmed that group status (TS vs. control) was a significant predictor of both VO₂ peak and maximal workload, independent of age and weight. No significant differences were observed in maximal heart rate or blood pressure between the two groups. O₂ pulse (ml/beat) was significantly lower in patients with TS (7.7 ± 1.2 ml/beat) versus healthy controls (8.6 ± 1.4 ml/beat, p = 0.03).Conclusion: Girls with TS exhibit a reduced exercise capacity compared to their healthy peers, as evidenced by lower VO₂ peak, maximal workload and O₂ pulse during standardized CPET. Further research on pathophysiology, evolution over time, and impact of targeted interventions is needed.