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Functional Class in Children with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. A pilot Study

Abstract

Background:

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM), most common cardiac cause of pediatric deaths, mortality descriptor: a low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and low functional capacity (FC). FC is never self reported by children.

Objective:

The aims of this study were (i) To evaluate whether functional classifications according to the children, parents and medical staff were associated. (iv) To evaluate whether there was correlation between VO2 max and Weber's classification.

Method:

Prepubertal children with IDCM and HF (by previous IDCM and preserved LVEF) were selected, evaluated and compared. All children were assessed by testing, CPET and functional class classification.

Results:

Chi-square test showed association between a CFm and CFp (1, n = 31) = 20.6; p = 0.002. There was no significant association between CFp and CFc (1, n = 31) = 6.7; p = 0.4. CFm and CFc were not associated as well (1, n = 31) = 1.7; p = 0.8. Weber's classification was associated to CFm (1, n = 19) = 11.8; p = 0.003, to CFp (1, n = 19) = 20.4; p = 0.0001and CFc (1, n = 19) = 6.4; p = 0.04).

Conclusion:

Drawing were helpful for children's self NYHA classification, which were associated to Weber's stratification.

Keywords
Heart Failure; Cardiomyopathy; Dilated / mortality; Stroke Volume; Child; Pilot Projects

Resumo

Fundamento:

A cardiomiopatia dilatada idiopática (CMDid) possui poucos preditores de mortalidade descritos: a baixa fração de ejeção de ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) e a baixa capacidade funcional, sendo esta subjetiva.

Objetivo:

Os objetivos desse estudo foram (i) Avaliar se as classes funcionais propostas pela NYHA, modificada para crianças, estiveram associadas entre a percepção médica (CFm), dos pais ou representantes (CFp) e das próprias crianças avaliadas (CFc). (ii) Avaliar se houve correlação entre VO2 max e a classificação proposta por Weber.

Método:

Crianças com CMDid e com IC por CMDid prévia com FEVE preservada, na fase pré-puberdade foram selecionadas submetidas a avaliações de ergoespirometria e classificação da classe funcional. As crianças utilizaram uma representação gráfica para se intitular quanto à classe funcional.

Resultado:

O teste Chi-quadrado mostrou que houve associação ente a CFm e CFp (1, n = 31) = 20,6; p = 0,002. Não houve associação significativa entre CFp e CFc (1, n = 31) = 6,7; p = 0,4. As CF segundo médico e CFc não foram, tampouco, associadas (1, n = 31) = 1,7; p = 0,8. A classificação de Weber foi significativamente associada às três classes funcionais (classificação de Weber e CFm (1, n = 19) = 11,8; p = 0,003; classificação de Weber e CFp (1, n = 19) = 20,4; p = 0,0001; classificação de Weber e CFc (1, n = 19) = 6.4; p = 0.04.).

Conclusão:

A representação gráfica serviu para que as crianças pudessem se classificar segundo a NYHA, que se demonstrou associada com a estratificação de Weber.

Palavras-chave
Insuficiência Cardíaca; Cardiomiopatia Dilatada / mortalidade; Volume Sistólico; Criança; Projetos Piloto

Introduction

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) - characterized by left ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction of undetermined cause,11 Azeka E, Vasconcelos LM, Cippiciani TM, Oliveira AS, Barbosa DF, Leite RM, et al. Heart failure in children: from the pharmacologic treatment to heart transplantation. Rev Med. 2008;87(2):99-104.

2 Towbin JA, Lowe AM, Colan SD, Sleeper LA, Orav EJ, Clunie J, et. al. Incidence, causes, and outcomes of dilated cardiomyopathy in children. JAMA. 2006;296(15):1867-76.
-33 Dolgin M. Nomenclature and criteria for diagnosis of diseases of the heart and great vessels. 9th ed. Boston: Little Brown & Co; 1994. has a high incidence among the pediatric population44 Wilkinson JD, Landy DC, Colan SD, Towbin JA, Sleeper LA, Orav EJ, et al. The pediatric cardiomyopathy registry and heart failure: key results from the first 15 years. Heart Fail Clin. 2010;6(4):401-13. and an unfavorable outcome,22 Towbin JA, Lowe AM, Colan SD, Sleeper LA, Orav EJ, Clunie J, et. al. Incidence, causes, and outcomes of dilated cardiomyopathy in children. JAMA. 2006;296(15):1867-76.,55 Everitt MD, Sleeper LA, Lu M, Canter CE, Pahl E, Wilkinson JD, et al. Recovery of echocardiographic function in children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: results. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;63(14):1405-13.,66 Morhy SS. [Dilated cardiomyopathy in children--is there an ecocardiographic prognostic index?]. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2004;82(6):501-2. and is thus a target for reasearch.11 Azeka E, Vasconcelos LM, Cippiciani TM, Oliveira AS, Barbosa DF, Leite RM, et al. Heart failure in children: from the pharmacologic treatment to heart transplantation. Rev Med. 2008;87(2):99-104.

To date, it is known that the only predictors of death or cardiac transplantation in children with IDCM are a low LVEF and low functional capacity.77 Guimarães GV, d'Avila VM, Camargo PR, Moreira LF, Lanz JR, Bocchi EA. Prognostic value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopaty in a non-beta-blocker therapy setting. Eur J Heart Fail. 2008;10(6):560-5. Eur J Heart Fail. 2008;10(8):814.

LVEF is easily measured by echocardiography.88 Lopez L, Colan SD, Frommelt PC, Ensing GJ, Kendall K, Younoszai AK, et al. Recommendations for quantification methods during the performance of a pediatric echocardiogram: a report from the Pediatric Measurements Writing Group of the American Society of Echocardiography Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Council. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2010;23(5):465-95. Functional capacity, in turn, may be determined using peak oxygen consumption (VO2) in the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)99 Hasselstrom H, Hansen SE, Froberg K, Andersen LB. Physical fitness and physical activity during adolescence as predictors of cardiovascular disease risk in young adulthood. Danish Youth and Sports Study. An eight-year follow-up study. Int J Sports Med. 2002;23 Suppl 1:S27-31.,1010 Stelken AM, Younis LT, Jennison SH, Miller DD, Miller LW, Shaw LJ, et al. Prognostic value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing using percent achieved of predicted peak oxygen uptake for patients with ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1996;27(2):345-52. or scales representing the functional class.33 Dolgin M. Nomenclature and criteria for diagnosis of diseases of the heart and great vessels. 9th ed. Boston: Little Brown & Co; 1994.,1111 Ross RD. The Ross classification for heart failure in children after 25 years: a review and an age-stratified revision. Pediatr Cardiol. 2012;33(8):1295-300.,1212 Weber KT, Kinasewitz GT, Janicki JS, Fishman AP. Oxygen utilization and ventilation during exercise in patients with chronic cardiac failure. Circulation. 1982;65(6):1213-23. CPET findings provide an objective assessment of the functional capacity,99 Hasselstrom H, Hansen SE, Froberg K, Andersen LB. Physical fitness and physical activity during adolescence as predictors of cardiovascular disease risk in young adulthood. Danish Youth and Sports Study. An eight-year follow-up study. Int J Sports Med. 2002;23 Suppl 1:S27-31.,1313 Guimarães GV, Bellotti G, Mocelin AO, Camargo PR, Bocchi EA. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Chest. 2001;120(3):816-24. whereas the scales represent a subjective assessment.1313 Guimarães GV, Bellotti G, Mocelin AO, Camargo PR, Bocchi EA. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Chest. 2001;120(3):816-24.

However, the scales are not always related to the objective values of CPET,1313 Guimarães GV, Bellotti G, Mocelin AO, Camargo PR, Bocchi EA. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Chest. 2001;120(3):816-24.,1414 Goldman L, Hashimoto B, Cook EF, Loscalzo A. Comparative reproducibility and validity of assessing cardiovascular functional class: advantages of a new specific scale. Circulation. 1981;64(6):1227-34. and this may impair the communication between parents and the medical team, the stratification, and treatment. Thus, the objective of this study is to fill this gap and evaluate whether there is a correlation between the objective functional capacity (by peak O2 consumption - peak VO2 ) and the functional class as proposed by the family, the medical team and the child itself, and whether there is a correlation between peak VO2 and Weber stratification.1212 Weber KT, Kinasewitz GT, Janicki JS, Fishman AP. Oxygen utilization and ventilation during exercise in patients with chronic cardiac failure. Circulation. 1982;65(6):1213-23.

Methods

Sample

This is a pilot, cross-sectional, prospective, randomized, consecutive study. Children of both genders with IDCM and children with HF with preserved LVEF (secondary to previous IDCM) were selected from the outpatient clinic of the Medical Unit of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Defects of Instituto do Coração - InCor, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - HCFMUSP.

The inclusion criteria were: (i) patients diagnosed with current IDCM or HF for previous IDCM with preserved LVEF; (ii) patients clinically stable; (iii) patients receiving drug therapy continuously for the past 3 months; (iv) older than 5 years;1515 Tomasello M, Hamann K. Collaboration in young children. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove). 2012;65(1):1-12.,1616 Bar-Or O. Rowland TW. Pediatric care medicine. In: Physiological principles to health care application. Champaign (IL): Human kinetics; 2004. p. 1-41. (v) age equivalent to the prepubertal phase -Tanner-Whithouse scale stages 1 to 3;1717 Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH. Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Child.1976;51(3):170-9. (vi) previous echocardiographic study performed at least 6 months earlier.

Children with complex ventricular arrhythmias or atrial fibrillation; in the postoperative recovery period; with neuromuscular, renal or pulmonary diseases; with diabetes mellitus; and/or those who refused to participate in the study or in the assessments were not included.

The children, as well as their guardians (as established in articles 1634,1818 Brasil. Lei nº 10406/02 de 10 de janeiro de 2002. Concede-lhes ou negam-lhes consentimento para mudarem sua residência, mantendo poder familiar enquanto dos filhos. Art 1634, inciso V Código Civil. and 1852,1919 Brasil. Lei nº 10406/02 de 10 de janeiro de 2002. Concede o direito de representação dá-se na linha reta descendente mas nunca ascendente. Art. 1852, Código Civil de 2002. subsection V of the Civil Code, and in Law 8069/90 and 10406/2002),2020 Brasil. Lei n° 8.069/90 de 13 de julho de 1990 - Estatuto da Criança e Adolescente. Código Civil; 2002. included in any of the groups, were given information on the objectives of the research and the tests participants should undergo. In addition, all children participating and their parents or guardians were informed that the children should keep taking their regular medication throughout the study. All children or guardians gave written informed consent to participate.

The children were included according to the inclusion criteria and were assessed provided they were cleared by the medical team.

Assessments

All children were assessed as regards their functional class, anthropometric data and CPET.

Functional class

The modified functional classification used was adapted from a functional classification previously described elsewhere and applied in studies assessing children with cardiomyopathies,33 Dolgin M. Nomenclature and criteria for diagnosis of diseases of the heart and great vessels. 9th ed. Boston: Little Brown & Co; 1994.,2121 LeMura LM, von Duvillard SP, Cohen SL, Root CJ, Chelland SA, Andreacci J, et al. Treadmil and cycle ergometry testing in 5- to 6-year-old children. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;85(5):7472-8. as follows:

Class I - Heart disease with no limitation of physical activities. Schoolchildren are able to attend physical education classes until the end.

Class II - Slight limitation of physical activities. Comfortable at rest, but ordinary activities may result in tachycardia, fatigue or dyspnea. Schoolchildren attend physical education classes, but are unable to stay until the end.

Class III - Marked limitation of physical activities. Less than ordinary activities, such as walking less than a block, may cause fatigue, tachycardia or dyspnea. Schoolchildren are unable to attend physical education classes.

Class IV - Unable to carry on any physical activity without discomfort. Symptoms are present at rest and increase during activity.

Based on this description, a graphic representation of the four functional classes was elaborated by this study's author, both for male and female children (Figures 1 and 2, respectively), so that the guardians and the children could use it. In order to make these drawings, the image taken into consideration was the one with which children in the same age range as those participating in the study could identify themselves.

Figure 1
Functional class for male children.
Figure 2
Functional class for female children.

Initially, the physician following up the children would give his/her opinion on which functional class the children were in. This baseline assessment was made without the presence of the guardians or the children themselves. This information was expressed as functional class according to the medical team (FCm).

Next, the parents or guardians would give their opinion on the functional class the children were in, according to figures 1 and 2. This classification was made without the presence of the physicians or even the children themselves. This information was expressed as functional class according to parents or guardians (FCp).

Later, the children would perform a self-assessment of their functional class using the graphic representation (Figures 1 and 2). This self-perceived functional class was expressed as functional class according to the children themselves (FCc).

Anthropometric data

Data on age, gender, height, body mass and body mass index (BMI) were collected.

Echocardiographic data

Analysis of the cardiac function using echocardiography was considered for studies performed up to six months prior to inclusion.

Echocardiographic studies were performed according to recommendations from the guidelines for the pediatric population, using the Teicholz method.2222 Lai WW, Geva T, Shirali GS, Frommelt PC, Humes RA, Brook MM, et al; Task Force of the Pediatric Council of the American Society of Echocardiography; Pediatric Council of the American Society of Echocardiography. Guidelines and standards for performance of a pediatric echocardiogram: a report from the task force of the Pediatric Council of the American Society of Echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2006;19(2):1413-30. Data on LVEF, end-diastolic left ventricular size, end-systolic left ventricular diameter, and left ventricular wall thickness were collected. Size and thickness values were corrected for body surface area (BSA) using a formula appropriate for children weighing more than 10 kg, as follows: BSA = (weight *4 +7) / (weight + 90),2323 Rincón DA, Komaromy CY. Evaluación de seis fórmulas usadas para el cálculo de la superficie corpórea. Rev Fac Med Univ Nac Colomb 2004;52(2):115-120. in which weight is expressed in kg.

Children, whose medical record contained a previous echocardiographic study performed no later than six months prior to the collection of the other data, would have their echocardiographic data retrieved from that previous study. Children with no previous echocardiographic study underwent the test, from which the data were further collected.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test

The children underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in a programmable treadmill (Marquette series 2000, Marquette Electronics, Milwaukee, WI, USA), according to the modified Balke ramp protocol.2121 LeMura LM, von Duvillard SP, Cohen SL, Root CJ, Chelland SA, Andreacci J, et al. Treadmil and cycle ergometry testing in 5- to 6-year-old children. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;85(5):7472-8.,2424 Paridon SM, Alpert BS, Boas SR, Cabrera ME, Caldarera LL, Daniels SR. et al; American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Committee on Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in Youth. Clinical stress testing in the pediatric age group: a statement from the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Committee on Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in Youth. Circulation. 2006;113(15):1905-20.

25 Washington RL, Bricker JT, Alpert BS, Daniels SR, Deckelbaum RJ, Fisher EA, et al. Guidelines for exercise testing in the pediatric age group. From the Committee on Atherosclerosis and Hypertension in Children, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, the American Heart Association. Circulation. 1994;90(4):2166-79.
-2626 Rusconi P, Gomes-Marin O, Rossique-Gonzalvez M, Redha E, Marín J, Lon-Young M, et al. Carvedilol in children with cardiomyopathy: 3-year experience at a single Institution. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2003;23(7):832-8.

CPET was performed two hours after a caffeine-free light meal, in a room with controlled temperature (21°C to 23°C), after a 2-minute rest, in the upright position on the treadmill.2525 Washington RL, Bricker JT, Alpert BS, Daniels SR, Deckelbaum RJ, Fisher EA, et al. Guidelines for exercise testing in the pediatric age group. From the Committee on Atherosclerosis and Hypertension in Children, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, the American Heart Association. Circulation. 1994;90(4):2166-79.

During the beginning of the resting, exercise, and recovery periods, the children had their pulmonary ventilation as well as oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations in the inhaled and exhaled air volumes continuously monitored (Sensormedics, model Vmax 229, Yorba Linda, CA, USA), breath by breath. During CPET, continuous 12-lead heart rhythm monitoring was performed (Marquette MAX 1, Marquette Electronics, Milwaukee, WI, USA) and systemic blood pressure was measured every minute (HP68S Hewlett-Packard multiparameter monitor, USA, or HP M1008B Hewlett-Packard oscillometric blood pressure transducer, USA).2424 Paridon SM, Alpert BS, Boas SR, Cabrera ME, Caldarera LL, Daniels SR. et al; American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Committee on Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in Youth. Clinical stress testing in the pediatric age group: a statement from the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Committee on Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in Youth. Circulation. 2006;113(15):1905-20.

25 Washington RL, Bricker JT, Alpert BS, Daniels SR, Deckelbaum RJ, Fisher EA, et al. Guidelines for exercise testing in the pediatric age group. From the Committee on Atherosclerosis and Hypertension in Children, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, the American Heart Association. Circulation. 1994;90(4):2166-79.
-2626 Rusconi P, Gomes-Marin O, Rossique-Gonzalvez M, Redha E, Marín J, Lon-Young M, et al. Carvedilol in children with cardiomyopathy: 3-year experience at a single Institution. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2003;23(7):832-8.

Criteria for exercise termination were the absolute indications recommended by the ACC/AHA Guidelines Update For Exercise Testing, when exhaustion was reached (respiratory quotient > 1.0)2525 Washington RL, Bricker JT, Alpert BS, Daniels SR, Deckelbaum RJ, Fisher EA, et al. Guidelines for exercise testing in the pediatric age group. From the Committee on Atherosclerosis and Hypertension in Children, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, the American Heart Association. Circulation. 1994;90(4):2166-79. or in the presence of signs or symptoms that could result in cardiac injury, such as angina, headache, dizziness, syncope, excessive dyspnea, fatigue, ST-segment depression or elevation greater than 3 mm, arrhythmia, supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia, atrioventricular block or progressive decrease in blood pressure (BP).2525 Washington RL, Bricker JT, Alpert BS, Daniels SR, Deckelbaum RJ, Fisher EA, et al. Guidelines for exercise testing in the pediatric age group. From the Committee on Atherosclerosis and Hypertension in Children, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, the American Heart Association. Circulation. 1994;90(4):2166-79.

Statistical Analysis

The statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS 12.0 software program for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normality of data in the population.

Patient demographics were expressed in a descriptive manner, in absolute numbers, percentages or mean and standard deviation. Functional classes were presented as absolute numbers. Quantitative variables regarding the cardiopulmonary exercise test were expressed as mean and standard deviation.

The chi-square test (χ2) was used to analyze the association between categorical variables of the functional class, as assessed by the medical team, guardians and children.

The Pearson correlation coefficient was used for normal data, and the Spearman correlation, for non-parametric data, in order to correlate quantitative data. These correlations were interpreted as directly proportional (if +) or inversely proportional (if -), and weak (if 0.1 to 0.29), moderate (if 0.3 to 0.59), strong (if 0.6 to 0.79), very strong (if 0.8 to 0,99) or perfect (if 1).2727 Bunchaft G. Kellner SRO. Estatística sem mistérios. 2ª. ed. Petrópolis: Vozes; 1999.

Results

Initially, 77 children were screened to comprise the sample. Only 31 met all inclusion criteria; however, only 19 agreed to participate in the study. The post-hoc Bonferroni test showed that there was no significant effect for gender among the children.

None of the 19 children presented any hemodynamic instability during the cardiopulmonary exercise test.

The children were using the following medications: acetyl salicylic acid, captopril, carvedilol, digoxin, enalapril, spironolactone, furosemide, and topimarate.

Table 1 shows the characterization of the overall sample, with details on its demographics and echocardiographic data.

Table 1
Sample characterization

According to the medical team, 13 children were classified as FC I, five as FC II, one as FC III, and none as FC IV.

According to parents, 13 children were classified as FC I, four as FC II, one as FC III and one as FC IV.

According to the self-assessment, 11 children classified themselves as FC I, six as FC II, two as FC III. No children classified themselves as FC IV.

Table 2 shows FCm, FCp, FCc, and peak VO2 reached in the cardiopulmonary exercise test for each participant.

Table 2
Cardiopulmonary exercise test data

The chi-square test showed an association between FCm and FCp (1, n = 31) = 20.6; p = 0.002. No significant association was found between FCp and FCc (1, n = 31) = 6.7; p = 0.4. FCm and FCc were not associated either (1, n = 31) = 1.7; p = 0.8.

According to the peak VO2 found in CPET, Weber classification was significantly associated with the three functional classes described in this study, using the χ2 test: Weber classification and FCm (1, n = 19) = 11.8; p = 0.003; Weber classification and FCp (1, n = 19) = 20.4; p = 0.0001; Weber classification and FCc (1, n = 19) = 6.4; p = 0.04. (Figure 3).

Figure 3
Functional class, Weber classification, and peak oxygen consumption. c: child; FC: functional class; m: medical team; p: parents or guardians; VO2 peak: peak oxygen consumption. ap = 0.003; bp = 0.0001; cp = 0.04.

Children from the sample reached 84% of the maximum HR, according to the formula proposed by Tanaka (maximum HR = 208 - [0.7 x age]),2828 Tanaka H, Monahan KD, Seals DR. Age-predicted maximal heart rate revisited. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2001;37(1):153-6. with this maximum HR being approximately 35 bpm lower than that proposed.

Peak VO2 and LVEF values showed a weak non-significant correlation between each other (r = 0.27; p = 0.25). Likewise, LVEF was not related to the other data obtained from CPET.

Finally, Table 3 shows all data from the present study, including data on the functional classes (FCm, FCp, FCc) and peak VO2 as measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test, for each study subject.

Table 3
Data on functional classes and peak oxygen consumption on cardiopulmonary exercise test

Discussion

Although the study sample had a small number of participants, our findings show that the cardiopulmonary exercise test is safe in the populations described; that peak VO2 findings are related to the stratification data using Weber classification;1212 Weber KT, Kinasewitz GT, Janicki JS, Fishman AP. Oxygen utilization and ventilation during exercise in patients with chronic cardiac failure. Circulation. 1982;65(6):1213-23. and that drawings can be an additional resource for the assessment of children with IDCM and HF (for previous IDCM) with preserved LVEF.

As regards the anthropometric data, all children enrolled were in the prepubertal phase,1717 Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH. Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Child.1976;51(3):170-9. thus there was no influence of hormones on the results obtained.2929 Malina RM. Bouchard C. Alterações em tecidos adiposos durante o crescimento. In: Malina RM. Atividade física do atleta jovem: do crescimento à maturação. São Paulo: Roca; 2002. p. 127-42.

Although all children included in the present study had been in the same age range in which linear growth occurs (from 7 to 11 years of age),3030 Heys M, Lin SL, Lam TH, Leung GM, Schooling CM. Lifetime growth and blood pressure in adolescence: Hong Kong's ''Children of 1997'' birth cohort. Pediatrics. 2013;131(1):e62-72. children with IDCM were shorter than those with HF. This may have resulted from low weight gain during childhood3131 Neuhauser HK, Thamm M, Ellert U, Hense WH, Rosario AS. Blood pressure percentiles by age and height from nonoverweight children and adolescents in Germany. Pediatrics. 2011;127(4):e978-88. because of a low systemic supply secondary to impaired cardiac output that children with more severely affected hearts show.3232 Akiyama E, Sugiyama S, Matsuzawa Y, Konishi M, Suzuki H, Nozaki T, et al. Incremental prognostic significance of peripheral endothelial dysfunction in patients with heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012;60(18):1778-86.

The medications used were consistent with those described in the literature for the treatment of IDCM or HF in the pediatric population, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI),3333 Hechter SJ, Fredriksen PM, Liu P, Veldtman G, Merchant N, Freeman M, et al. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in adults after the Mustard procedure. Am J Cardiol. 2001;87(5):660-3. betablockers and diuretics11 Azeka E, Vasconcelos LM, Cippiciani TM, Oliveira AS, Barbosa DF, Leite RM, et al. Heart failure in children: from the pharmacologic treatment to heart transplantation. Rev Med. 2008;87(2):99-104..2626 Rusconi P, Gomes-Marin O, Rossique-Gonzalvez M, Redha E, Marín J, Lon-Young M, et al. Carvedilol in children with cardiomyopathy: 3-year experience at a single Institution. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2003;23(7):832-8.

The cause of short stature in children with IDCM and of high drug doses may be similar to that of nocturnal dip. The latter, in turn , is related to severity of symptoms and greater sympathetic activity.3434 Sherwood A, Steffen PR, Blumenthal JA, Kuhn C, Hinderliter AL. Nighttime blood pressure dipping: the role of the sympathetic nervous system. Am J Hypertens. 2002;15(2 Pt 1):111-8. In this regard, further studies are probably necessary to establish these associations.

Like for adults, exercise tolerance is known to be predictive of mortality in children with heart failure.77 Guimarães GV, d'Avila VM, Camargo PR, Moreira LF, Lanz JR, Bocchi EA. Prognostic value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopaty in a non-beta-blocker therapy setting. Eur J Heart Fail. 2008;10(6):560-5. Eur J Heart Fail. 2008;10(8):814. Additionally, the experience with cardiopulmonary exercise test2121 LeMura LM, von Duvillard SP, Cohen SL, Root CJ, Chelland SA, Andreacci J, et al. Treadmil and cycle ergometry testing in 5- to 6-year-old children. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;85(5):7472-8.,2525 Washington RL, Bricker JT, Alpert BS, Daniels SR, Deckelbaum RJ, Fisher EA, et al. Guidelines for exercise testing in the pediatric age group. From the Committee on Atherosclerosis and Hypertension in Children, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, the American Heart Association. Circulation. 1994;90(4):2166-79. in healthy children1616 Bar-Or O. Rowland TW. Pediatric care medicine. In: Physiological principles to health care application. Champaign (IL): Human kinetics; 2004. p. 1-41. and in those with HF for IDCM2525 Washington RL, Bricker JT, Alpert BS, Daniels SR, Deckelbaum RJ, Fisher EA, et al. Guidelines for exercise testing in the pediatric age group. From the Committee on Atherosclerosis and Hypertension in Children, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, the American Heart Association. Circulation. 1994;90(4):2166-79. older than 6 years,1616 Bar-Or O. Rowland TW. Pediatric care medicine. In: Physiological principles to health care application. Champaign (IL): Human kinetics; 2004. p. 1-41.,2525 Washington RL, Bricker JT, Alpert BS, Daniels SR, Deckelbaum RJ, Fisher EA, et al. Guidelines for exercise testing in the pediatric age group. From the Committee on Atherosclerosis and Hypertension in Children, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, the American Heart Association. Circulation. 1994;90(4):2166-79.,3232 Akiyama E, Sugiyama S, Matsuzawa Y, Konishi M, Suzuki H, Nozaki T, et al. Incremental prognostic significance of peripheral endothelial dysfunction in patients with heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012;60(18):1778-86. show that the cardiovascular and metabolic responses are similar to those observed in adults with the same clinical characteristics.1717 Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH. Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Child.1976;51(3):170-9.

In our CPET assessments, we observed that both groups of children with IDCM and those with HF with preserved LVEF are unable to reach the maximum age-predicted HR in the exercise test. These findings are corroborated by results of studies conducted in adults with HF3535 Carvalho VO, Bocchi EA, Guimarães GV. The Carvedilol's beta-blockade in heart failure and exercise training's sympathetic blockade in healthy athletes during the rest and peak effort. Cardiovasc Ther. 2010;28(2):87-92. and in children with IDCM,1717 Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH. Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Child.1976;51(3):170-9. in which 80% of the maximum HR in the mean for age was reached, and are similar to those found in the present study, in which the values are between 82% and 84% of the maximum HR.

Peak VO2 values found in the present study were different in the two groups. This probably resulted from the fact that peak VO2 is believed to occur between 13 and 14 years of age,1616 Bar-Or O. Rowland TW. Pediatric care medicine. In: Physiological principles to health care application. Champaign (IL): Human kinetics; 2004. p. 1-41.,2121 LeMura LM, von Duvillard SP, Cohen SL, Root CJ, Chelland SA, Andreacci J, et al. Treadmil and cycle ergometry testing in 5- to 6-year-old children. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;85(5):7472-8.,2929 Malina RM. Bouchard C. Alterações em tecidos adiposos durante o crescimento. In: Malina RM. Atividade física do atleta jovem: do crescimento à maturação. São Paulo: Roca; 2002. p. 127-42. i.e., the parameters related to this indicator are expected to be rising during the prepubertal period, phase in which the participants were assessed.2929 Malina RM. Bouchard C. Alterações em tecidos adiposos durante o crescimento. In: Malina RM. Atividade física do atleta jovem: do crescimento à maturação. São Paulo: Roca; 2002. p. 127-42.,3636 Silva RJ, Petroski EL. Consumo máximo de oxigênio e estágio de maturação sexual de crianças e adolescentes. Revista de desporto e Saúde. 2007;4(1):13-9. Although a systematic review by the present study's author had shown that peak VO2 values in prepubertal girls are, on average, 20% lower than those found in prepubertal boys,3737 Tavares AC, Bocchi EA, Teixeira-Neto IS, Guimarães GV. A meta-analysis of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in pre-pubertal healthy children. Medical Express. (São Paulo, online). 2016;3(1). São Paulo. Jan/Feb. 2016. because of the influence of hormones and body fat,3737 Tavares AC, Bocchi EA, Teixeira-Neto IS, Guimarães GV. A meta-analysis of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in pre-pubertal healthy children. Medical Express. (São Paulo, online). 2016;3(1). São Paulo. Jan/Feb. 2016.,3838 Eisenmann JC, Pivarnik JM, Malina RM. Scaling peak VO2 to body mass in young male and female distance runners. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2001;90(6):2172-80. this finding was not observed here after post-hoc Bonferroni test. We can suppose that the small sample size had a negative influence on the analysis of this variable.

Even with peak VO2 values lower than expected,3737 Tavares AC, Bocchi EA, Teixeira-Neto IS, Guimarães GV. A meta-analysis of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in pre-pubertal healthy children. Medical Express. (São Paulo, online). 2016;3(1). São Paulo. Jan/Feb. 2016. all children reached the maximum test according to the criteria of exercise termination mentioned by ACC/AHA Guidelines Update for Exercise Testing,3939 Armstrong N, Davies B. The metabolic and physiological responses of children to exercise and training. Physical Edication Review. 1984;7(2):90-105. because the modified Balke protocol used is appropriate to the study population, and the protocol-demanded response to exercise is similar to the physiological response to exercise in children. That is, the time to reach 50% of peak VO2 values in children is shorter than that for adults; children are less dependent on the glycogenic pathway to meet the demands than adults; the use of fatty acids as an energy source is greater during childhood; and children show lower levels of blood lactate (which makes it more difficult to reach exhaustion), lower pulmonary ventilation (VE, L/min) and lower carbon dioxide production (VCO2, mL/min).2929 Malina RM. Bouchard C. Alterações em tecidos adiposos durante o crescimento. In: Malina RM. Atividade física do atleta jovem: do crescimento à maturação. São Paulo: Roca; 2002. p. 127-42.,3939 Armstrong N, Davies B. The metabolic and physiological responses of children to exercise and training. Physical Edication Review. 1984;7(2):90-105.

Since the information on the functional class as assessed by the children, their guardians and the medical team was not correlated, the data prove to be subjective, which is corroborated by previous studies.1313 Guimarães GV, Bellotti G, Mocelin AO, Camargo PR, Bocchi EA. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Chest. 2001;120(3):816-24.,1414 Goldman L, Hashimoto B, Cook EF, Loscalzo A. Comparative reproducibility and validity of assessing cardiovascular functional class: advantages of a new specific scale. Circulation. 1981;64(6):1227-34. However, it was correlated with peak VO2 values on CPET,4040 van den Broek SA, van Veldhuisen DJ, de Graeff PA, Landsman ML, Hillege H, Lie K. Comparison between New York Heart Association classification and peak oxygen consumption the assessment of functional status and prognosis in patients with mild to moderate chronic congestive heart failure secondary to either ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol. 1992;70(3):359-63. according to Weber's criteria, which are very frequently used for stratification and prognosis in adults.1212 Weber KT, Kinasewitz GT, Janicki JS, Fishman AP. Oxygen utilization and ventilation during exercise in patients with chronic cardiac failure. Circulation. 1982;65(6):1213-23. Since, to date, no such prognostic assessment exists in the scientific literature regarding children with IDCM and HF, the measurement will probably continue to be subjective, corroborating previous findings from 2001, in which objective values on CPET did not correlate with the functional class as assessed by the medical team.1313 Guimarães GV, Bellotti G, Mocelin AO, Camargo PR, Bocchi EA. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Chest. 2001;120(3):816-24.

Conclusion

Peak VO2 peak are related to stratification data by Weber classification, and the drawings shown to prepubertal children may be an additional resource for the assessment of children with IDCM and HF (for previous IDCM) and preserved LVEF.

  • Sources of Funding
    This study was funded by FAPESP 2011/08985-0.
  • Study Association
    This article is part of the thesis of doctoral submitted by Aline Cristina Tavares, from Instituto do Coração (INCOR), Hospital das clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    06 May 2016
  • Date of issue
    June 2016

History

  • Received
    10 July 2015
  • Reviewed
    30 Nov 2015
  • Accepted
    18 Jan 2016
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