Cardiovascular Responses to Exercise in Healthy Children

Exercise tests are becoming an integral part of the diagnostic evaluation of children with cardiac disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine the reference parameters for exercise testing in normal Turkish children. Two-hundred and thirty-seven healthy children (102 girls and 135 boys), aged 5-14 years were studied using a modified Bruce protocol. The children were divided into groups according to their gender and age ( 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 years of age). In all age groups, exercise workload, peak exercise systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, increase in systolic blood pressure and heart rate, double product were evaluated. All stated parameters except maximal heart rate increased with age in all groups. Atrial and ventricular premature beats were detected in eight children. Right bundle-branch block occurred in one subject. Ischemic ECG changes did not occur in any of the children. The present study established reference parameters for treadınili exercise ECG test in Turkish children.