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Three‐minute step test to assess exercise capacity in children with cystic fibrosis with mild lung disease
Author(s) -
Narang I.,
Pike S.,
Rosenthal M.,
BalfourLynn I.M.,
Bush A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.10213
Subject(s) - medicine , cystic fibrosis , heart rate , lung disease , cycle ergometer , vo2 max , lung function , physical therapy , physical exercise , cardiology , obstructive lung disease , lung , pulmonary disease , blood pressure
The information obtained from a simple submaximal test (the 3‐min step test) was compared with that from a maximal cycle ergometry study, in a group of children with CF with relatively mild abnormalities of lung function (FEV 1 > 50% predicted). Nineteen subjects with CF undertook both exercise tests on the same day. Measurements included heart rate (HR), oxygen saturations (SaO 2 ), visual analogue score of perceived breathlessness (VAS), 15‐count breathlessness score (15c), and peak oxygen consumption (VO 2 ). There were significant differences in the median changes in HR and VAS during the cycle test compared to the step test, 78 vs. 46 beats per minute ( P < 0.05) and 51 mm vs. 42 mm ( P < 0.05), respectively. There were no differences between median changes in 15c and SaO 2 , but 3 subjects had significant desaturations (>4%) during the cycle test only. Significant exercise desaturations may occur in mild CF lung disease and will not be detected by a 3‐min step test. The 15c did not discriminate between a maximal and a submaximal test, and was less useful than VAS. Important information may be missed by the step test which is detected by more complex exercise tests. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:108–113. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.