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A meta-analysis of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in pre-pubertal healthy children produces new information

METANÁLISE DE TESTES DE EXERCÍCIOS CARDIOPULMONARES EM CRIANÇAS PRÉ-PÚBERES SAUDÁVEIS

Abstracts

The objective of the paper was to analyze cardiopulmonary data and functional capacity in healthy children who have undergone ergospirometry. A systematic meta-analysis review of ergospirometry in children was performed based on reports indexed in PubMed, Bireme, and Embase. End points were age, sex, body mass index, maturation evaluation, the type of ergometer used for ergospirometry, and cardiopulmonary related values (peak heart rate and peak oxygen consumption [VO2]). Twenty articles were selected, which included 3,808 children, averaging 9.1years of age. A treadmill was used in 55% of the trials, and a cycle ergometer in the other 45% studies included in this analysis. The following statistically significant results were found: on subgroup analysis, peak VO2 values in boys on the treadmill was 20% higher than peak VO2 values in girls on the cycle ergometer; peak VO2 values in boys on the treadmill were 18% greater than that for girls on the same ergometer. BMI was inversely correlated with peak VO2 in the total analysis, and in female subjects on cycle ergometers. Peak heart rate during the ergospirometrical test was 5.6 BPM higher than the estimated 95% maximum heart rate. Most of the ergospirometrical parameters had not been reported in the original trials analyzed here. We conclude that peak VO2 value for pre-pubertal children are circa 18% higher in boys vs. girls and overall higher in treadmill vs. cycle ergometers.

KEYWORDS:
Cardiopulmonary function; Cardiopulmonary exercise testing; Peak oxygen consumption


O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar dados relativos à função cardiopulmonar e capacidade funcional em crianças saudáveis submetidas a ergoespirometria. Uma revisão meta-analítica sistemática de ergoespirometria em crianças foi realizada com base na literatura indexada no PubMed, Bireme, e Embase. Os parâmetros pesquisados foram: idade, sexo, índice de massa corporal, avaliação da maturação, tipo de ergômetro utilizado para ergoespirometria, e os valores cardiopulmonares relacionados (frequência cardíaca máxima e consumo máximo de oxigênio [VO2]). Vinte artigos foram selecionados, que incluíram 3808 crianças, com uma média de 9,1 anos de idade. Esteiras erogmétricas foram utilizadas em 55% dos ensaios, e bicicletas erogmétricas em outros 45% incluídos nesta análise. Os seguintes resultados estatisticamente significantes foram encontradas: em análise de subgrupo, valores de VO2 de pico em meninos, obtidos na esteira foram 20% maiores do que os respectivos valores em meninas na bicicleta ergométrica valores de VO2 pico em meninos na esteira foram 18% maiores do que para meninas no mesmo ergômetro. O Índice de massa corpórea correlacionou-se inversamente com VO2 de pico na análise total e em meninas testadas em ciclo-ergômetro. A frequência cardíaca máxima durante o teste ergo-espirométrico foi 5,6 BPM superior aos 95% da freqüência cardíaca máxima prevista. A maior parte dos parâmetros ergo-espirométricos não havia sido relatada nos estudos originais por nós analisados. A conclusão desta metanálise é que o valor de VO2 de pico para crianças pré-púberes é cerca de 18% maior nos meninos versus meninas e em esteira vs. ciclo-ergômetro.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE:
função cardiopulmonar; teste cardiopulmonar; consumo máximo de oxigênio


INTRODUCTION

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) is frequently used to appraise healthy, athletic children, 11 Eisenmann JC, Womack CJ, Reeves MJ, Pivarnik JM, Malina RM. Blood lipids of young distance runners: distribution and inter-relationships among training volume, peak oxygen consumption, and body fatness. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;85(1-2):104-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004210100445
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but it is also performed to analyze several physiologic variables that influence respiratory, cardiac, and metabolic responses to progressive exercise and, therefore functional capacity.22 The Criteria Committee of the New York Heart Association, Inc. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels: nomenclature and criteria for diagnosis, 6th ed. Boston: Little, Brown; 1964.

3 Rodgers GP, Ayanian JZ, Balady G, Beasley LW, Brown KA, Gervino EG, et al. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Clinical Competence statement on stress testing: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine Task Force on Clinical Competence. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2000;36(4):1441-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(00)01029-9
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Peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2), a CPX measurement, is one of the indicators of a person's cardiorespiratory condition. Peak VO2 deficits are associated with increased chances of developing other risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adulthood 55 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. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2002-28458
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,66 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. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0735-1097(95)00464-5
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and also helps screening ill pediatric patients, 77 Milano GE, Neiva L. Implicações práticas no nível de condicionamento cardiorrespiratório em criança e adolescentes obesos/Practical implications of the level cardiorrespiratory conditioning in children and adolescents obese. Motriz Rev Educ Fís. 2009;15(2): 414-26.

8 Potter CR, Unnithan VB. Interpretation and implementation of oxygen uptake kinetics studies in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2005;47(5):353-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2005.tb01148.x
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responses to treatment 1010 Zugck C, Haunstetter A, Kruger C, Kell R, Schellberg D, Kübler W, et al. Impact of beta-blocker treatment on the prognostic value of currently used risk predictors in congestive heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002;39(10):1615-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(02)01840-5
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11 Krasnoff JB, Mathias R, Rosenthal P, Painter PL. The comprehensive assessment of physical fitness in children following kidney and liver transplantation. Transplantation. 2006;2(2):211-217. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.tp.0000226160.40527.5f
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12 Mancini DM, Eisen H, Kussmaul W, Mull R, Edmunds LH Jr, Wilson JR. Value of peak exercise oxygen consumption for optimal timing of cardiac transplantation in ambulatory patients with heart failure. Circulation. 1991;83(3):778-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.83.3.778
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13 Richards DR, Mehra MR, Ventura HO, Lavie CJ, Smart FW, Stapleton DD, et al. Usefulness of peak oxygen consumption in predicting outcome of heart failure in women versus men. Am J Cardiol. 1997;80(9):1236-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9149(97)00651-6
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and prognostic factors.1515 Guimarães GV, D'Avila VM, Camargo PR, Moreira LFP, Luces JRL, Bocchi EA. Prognostic value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in a non- β-blocker therapy setting. Eur J Heart Failure. 2008;10(6):560-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejheart.2008.04.009
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejheart.2008...

Although pre-pubertal children are different from teens and adults, results from pediatric CPX have been published together with those of teens and adults. These combined values do not accurately reflect specific values for children.1616 Marinov B, Mandadzhieva S, Kostianev S. Oxygen-uptake efficiency slope in healthy 7- to 18-year-old children. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2007;19(2):159-70.-1717 Pettersen SA, Fredriksen PM, Ingjer F. The correlation between peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and running performance in children and adolescents. Aspects of different units. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2001;11(4):223-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0838.2001.110405.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0838.20...

This lack of specific data for children emphasizes the need for separating data according to age groups for pattern analysis.1818 Tavares AC, Bocchi EA, Guimarães GV. Endothelial function in pre-pubertal children at risk of developing cardiomyopathy: a new frontier. Clinics. 2012;67(3):273-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(03)12
http://dx.doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(0...
Knowing the CPX patterns of healthy children may be helpful for the development of clinical guidelines and better screening of ill pediatric populations in the future. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze cardiopulmonary data and functional capacity in healthy children who have undergone CPX.

METHODS

Literature search strategy

A systematic search of the PubMed, Bireme, and Embase databases was conducted to perform this meta-analysis, according to the recommendations of PRISMA.1919 Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG et al. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(4):264-269. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-4-200908180-00135
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-...

The search was performed using the following keyword combinations: (1) child and VO2, and (2) child and VO2 peak. The results were limited to human studies published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

The selection was based first on the titles, second on the abstracts. Articles deemed relevant were retained for further analysis, which included a selection based on an analysis of the full text of the articles. The authors performed a double-check review of the list of possible trials.

Trials with cardiopulmonary test data in animals, child athletes, adolescents, or adults, and review articles were excluded. Trials that did not provide the number of patients included in the sample and the standard deviation value for the mean peak VO2 found during the CPX were also excluded from final data collection. Papers with estimated peak VO2 values by either formula or estimation, without complete data and without ergometer specification, were excluded as well.

Collected data

The following data were collected for final analysis from each study: a) number of children included; b) subjects' sex; c) subjects' age; d) subjects' height and weight; e) subjects' body mass index (BMI); if no BMI was provided, it was calculated as weight divided by height squared; f) whenever maturation was appraised, the respective scale was used in the evaluation as well; g) the ergometer used for cardiopulmonary testing (cycle ergometer or treadmill); and h) evaluation and cardiopulmonary related values (blood pressure, peak heart rate [HR], mean peak VO2, and peak VO2 standard deviation).

Peak VO2 values were converted into mL/min/kg for comparisons. Thus, the confidence interval of the peak VO2 values was calculated with µ ± Z*S/√n, where µ is the reported mean value of the peak VO2 in each trial; Z is the value related to the distribution reported in each trial; S is the reported standard deviation value of the peak VO2 in each trial; and n is the number of subjects included in the sample.

Collected data included in the tables are expressed according to the type of ergometer used for the cardiopul monary testing, cycle ergometer (C) or treadmill (T) and according to sex.

Manuscripts are cited sequentially and chronologically based on year of publication to better clarify data presentation and their analysis.

Statistical analysis

Data are expressed as collected from the original trials, as absolute numbers, with the exception of peak VO2 values, for which confidence intervalswere calculated.

All the calculated results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). A Forest plot was used to elucidate the confidence intervals and mean values.

Statistical analyzes were performed with SPSS 12.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to check the normality of the population data. Parametric tests were used on the data with normal distribution.

The two-way ANOVA test was performed to determine the difference between sex-related values and between peak VO2 values measured on the cycle ergometer versus the treadmill. Pearson correlations were used to assess the relationship between two isolated variables. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

An approach for modeling the relationship between age and VO2 values was performed by a simple linear regression.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Figure 1 illustrates the selection procedure. After a preliminary search, 1,283 articles were retrieved, and 131 were considered potentially relevant based on the title and abstract contents; only 114 were eligible for full text evaluation. Out of these, 94 trials were excluded for several reasons specified in the figure, leaving 20 reports which contained complete information relevant for this review; these were accordingly chosen for final analysis.

Figure 1
Search Strategy. Results of search and selection of articles for final analysis

Included studies were published from 1985 to 2011, comprising a total of 3,808 children.

General study descriptions are shown in Table 1 indicating ergometer used, patients' details, age and maturation evaluation (type of evaluation if there was any), BMI, peakHR and VO2 values.2020 Reybrouck T, Weymans M, Stijns H, Knops J, Hauwaert L. Ventilatory anaerobic threshold in healthy children. Age and sex differences. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1985;54(3):278-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00426145
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00426145...

21 Sunnegardh J, Bratteby LE. Maximal oxygen uptake, anthropometry and physical activity in a randomly selected sample of 8 and 13 year old children in Sweden. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1987;56(3):266-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00690891
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00690891...

22 Washington RL, Gundy JC, Cohen C, Sondheimer HM, Wolfe RR. Normal aerobic and anaerobic exercise data for North American school-age children. J Pediatr. 1988;12(2):223-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(88)80059-3
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(88)...

23 Rowland TW, Green GM. Anaerobic threshold and the determination of training target heart rates in premenarchal girls. Pediatr Cardiol. 1989;10(2):75-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02309918
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02309918...

24 Armstrong N, Williams J, Balding J, Gentle P, Kirby B. The peak oxygen uptake of British children with reference to age, sex and sexual maturity. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1991;62(5):369-75. http://dx.doi.org/1007/BF00634975
http://dx.doi.org/1007/BF00634975...

25 Armstrong N, Kirby BJ, McManus AM, Welsman JR. Aerobic fitness of prepubescent children. Ann Hum Biol. 1995;22(5):427-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014469500004102
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014469500004...

26 Welsman JR, Armstrong N, Nevill AM, Winter EM, Kirby BJ. Scaling peak VO2 for differences in body size. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;28(2):259-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005768-199602000-00016
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005768-19960...

27 Trowbridge CA, Gower BA, Nagy TR, Hunter GR, Treuth MS, Goran MI. Maximal aerobic capacity in African-American and Caucasian prepubertal children. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 1997;273(36):E809-14.

28 Welsman JR, Armstrong N, Kirby BJ, Winsley RJ, Parsons G, Sharpe P. Exercise performance and magnetic resonance imaging-determined thigh muscle volume in children. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1997;76(1):92-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007s004210050218
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007s004210050218...

29 Armstrong N, Welsman JR. Peak oxygen uptake in relation to growth and maturation in 11- to 17-year-old humans. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;85(6):546-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004210100485
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004210100485...

30 Rump P, Verstappen F, Gerver WJM, Hornstra G. Body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness indicators in prepubescent boys and girls. Int J Sports Med. 2002;23(1);50-4. DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-19274
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2002-19274...

31 Vinet A, Mandigout S, Nottin S, Nguyen L, Lecoq AM, Curteix D, et al. Influence of body composition, hemoglobin concentration, and cardiac size and function of gender. Chest. 2003;124(4):1494-9. doi: 10.1378/chest.124.4.1494 .
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.124.4.1494...

32 Gürsel Y, Sonel B, Haydar Gök, Peyman Yalçýn. The peak oxygen uptake of healthy Turkish children with reference to age and sex: a pilot study. Turk J Pediatr 2004;46(1):38-43.

33 Eiberg S, Hasselstrom H, Grønfeldt V, Froberg K, Svensson J, Andersen LB. Maximum oxygen uptake and objectively measured physical activity in Danish children 6-7 years of age: the Copenhagen school child intervention study. Br J Sports Med. 2005;39(10):725-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2004.015230
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2004.0152...

34 Dencker M, Thorsson EA, Karlsson MK, Linden EC, Svensson J, Wollmer P, et al. Daily physical activity and its relation to aerobic fitness in children aged 8-11 years. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2006;96(5):587-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-0117-1
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-011...

35 Dencker M, Thorsson O, Karlsson MK, Lindén C, Eiberg S, Wollmer P, et al. Gender differences and determinants of aerobic fitness in children aged 8-11 years. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007;99(1):19-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0310-x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-031...

36 Arngrimsson SA, Sveinsson T, Jóhannsson E. Peak oxygen uptake in children: evaluation of an older prediction method and development of a new one. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2008;20(1):62-73.

37 Kolle E, Steene-Johannessen J, Andersen LB, Anderssen SA. Objectively assessed physical activity and aerobic fitness in a population-based sample of Norwegian 9- and 15-year-olds. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2010;20(1):e41-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.00892.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.20...

38 Dencker M, Hermansen M, Bugge A, Froberg K, Andersen LB. Predictors of VO2 peak in children age 6- to 7-years-old. Pediatric Exercise Science. 2011;23(1):87-96.
-3939 McNarry MA, Welsman JR, Jones AM. Influence of training and maturity status on the cardiopulmonary responses to ramp incremental cycle and upper body exercise in girls. J Appl Physiol. 2011;110(2):375-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00988.2010
http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.0...

Table 1
Overall characteristics of trials included in this review

Among all included trials, 12 studies (60%) used the Tanner-Whitehouse evaluation scale to analyze children's maturation.2020 Reybrouck T, Weymans M, Stijns H, Knops J, Hauwaert L. Ventilatory anaerobic threshold in healthy children. Age and sex differences. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1985;54(3):278-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00426145
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00426145...
One study chose the Weber method, 2121 Sunnegardh J, Bratteby LE. Maximal oxygen uptake, anthropometry and physical activity in a randomly selected sample of 8 and 13 year old children in Sweden. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1987;56(3):266-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00690891
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00690891...
whereas one identified the sample as pre-menarchal and therefore this analysis considered the population as pre-pubertal.2323 Rowland TW, Green GM. Anaerobic threshold and the determination of training target heart rates in premenarchal girls. Pediatr Cardiol. 1989;10(2):75-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02309918
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02309918...
The remaining 7 trials provided no evaluation of maturation, as shown in 1.

Overall, children were 9.1 ± 1.8 years old. Those children who were evaluated as pre-pubertal in their original trials were 9.6 ± 1.9 years old. Seven articles provided no pre-pubertal evaluation of the included children; these were significantly younger (8.4 ± 1.9) than children in the other studies. No correlation was found between age and VO2 values (Figure 2).

Figure 2
A register of the linear regression of oxygen consumption (VO2: mL/min/Kg) over age in children 5 - 12 years old: The R2 regression coefficient (0.0006) indicates that VO2 is not a function of age.

Most of the studies (12 trials, 60%) used a treadmill to perform the cardiopulmonary test. Seven studies (35%) used a cycle ergometer to perform the CPX. Only one trial compared cardiopulmonary values between both types of ergometers.2424 Armstrong N, Williams J, Balding J, Gentle P, Kirby B. The peak oxygen uptake of British children with reference to age, sex and sexual maturity. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1991;62(5):369-75. http://dx.doi.org/1007/BF00634975
http://dx.doi.org/1007/BF00634975...

All trials mentioned the criteria used to evaluate the maximal testing level. Sixteen trials 2121 Sunnegardh J, Bratteby LE. Maximal oxygen uptake, anthropometry and physical activity in a randomly selected sample of 8 and 13 year old children in Sweden. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1987;56(3):266-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00690891
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00690891...

22 Washington RL, Gundy JC, Cohen C, Sondheimer HM, Wolfe RR. Normal aerobic and anaerobic exercise data for North American school-age children. J Pediatr. 1988;12(2):223-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(88)80059-3
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(88)...

23 Rowland TW, Green GM. Anaerobic threshold and the determination of training target heart rates in premenarchal girls. Pediatr Cardiol. 1989;10(2):75-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02309918
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02309918...

24 Armstrong N, Williams J, Balding J, Gentle P, Kirby B. The peak oxygen uptake of British children with reference to age, sex and sexual maturity. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1991;62(5):369-75. http://dx.doi.org/1007/BF00634975
http://dx.doi.org/1007/BF00634975...
-2525 Armstrong N, Kirby BJ, McManus AM, Welsman JR. Aerobic fitness of prepubescent children. Ann Hum Biol. 1995;22(5):427-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014469500004102
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014469500004...
,3838 Dencker M, Hermansen M, Bugge A, Froberg K, Andersen LB. Predictors of VO2 peak in children age 6- to 7-years-old. Pediatric Exercise Science. 2011;23(1):87-96.-3939 McNarry MA, Welsman JR, Jones AM. Influence of training and maturity status on the cardiopulmonary responses to ramp incremental cycle and upper body exercise in girls. J Appl Physiol. 2011;110(2):375-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00988.2010
http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.0...
chose more than one of the following methods for maximal CPX consideration: (i): exhaustion in 17 trials (85%); (ii) very high respiratory exchange ratios equal to 1(11 trials), or to 0.99 (3 trials) in 14 studies (70%); (iii) estimated HR peak in 14 trials (70%); (iv) VO2 plateau when VO2 rise was less than 2 mL/kg/min despite continued increase in workload in three trials (15%).

In those reports in which CPX was executed on the cycle ergometer, the children were instructed to maintain a constant pedaling rate around 70/minute.

Confidence intervals and means of peak VO2 values are presented in Figure 3 . Details from collected data according to each ergometer are shown in Table 2 , which also contains age, BMI, peak RH, and peak VO2 confidence intervals from the trials according to sex. Table 3 shows the differing values from CPX cycle ergometer and treadmill data.

Figure 3
Forest Plot of VO2 log odds ratio. A: Male VO2 value on cycle ergometer; B. Female VO2 value on cycle ergometer; C: Male VO2 value on treadmill; D: Female VO2 value on treadmill. * p < 0.05 comparing female cycle ergometer VO2 to male treadmill VO2; # comparing male treadmill VO2 to female treadmill VO2

Table 2
Comparison of demographic and CPX parameters, regarding sex
Table 3
Comparison of demographic and CPX parameters, regarding ergometers

On subgroup analysis, there was a statistically significant difference of 13% in VO2values for male vs. female, but no difference between ergometers).

Analyzing peak VO2 in mL/min, i.e., with no weight assumption, a similarity between female and male children was observed as well: females had 1.3 ± 0.2 mL/min and males 1.4 ± 0.3 mL/min.

VO2 values for girls on the cycle ergometer were the lowest values of all and were not correlated with peak HR values. Female pre-pubertal children who had a respiratory exchange ratio (RER) < 1 had a minimum peak VO2 of 40.4 ± 5.6, a mean peak VO2 of 42.3 ± 5, and a maximum peak VO2 of 44.2 ± 4.6, with no statistical differences. Female pre-pubertal children who had an RER > 1 had similar minimum, mean, and maximum peak VO2 results: 38.7 ± 4.1; 40.8 ± 4.3; 42.8 ± 4.7, respectively, with no statistical differences.

BMI values correlated inversely to peak VO2 values for overall data (r = 0,4; p < 0.05). Female subjects on cycle ergometer also exhibited an inversed correlation of BMI with peak VO2 (r = -0.68; p < 0.05).

Peak HR values during CPX averaged 5.4 bpm above the estimated 95% maximal HR (196.9 ± 8 versus 191.5 ± 1.2, respectively), indicating that these were in fact maximal tests. Estimated maximal heart rates derive from the equation HRmax = 208 - [0.7 x age].2222 Washington RL, Gundy JC, Cohen C, Sondheimer HM, Wolfe RR. Normal aerobic and anaerobic exercise data for North American school-age children. J Pediatr. 1988;12(2):223-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(88)80059-3
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(88)...
Statistically significant, this peak HR value correlated with peak VO2 value in the treadmill data (r = 0.68 for male and r = 0.78 for female); the same correlation occurred for male children on the cycle ergometer (r = 0.53).

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were only reported in one study;2222 Washington RL, Gundy JC, Cohen C, Sondheimer HM, Wolfe RR. Normal aerobic and anaerobic exercise data for North American school-age children. J Pediatr. 1988;12(2):223-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(88)80059-3
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(88)...
thus, no analysis could be made in this meta-analysis.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis of expected CPX values in pre-pubertal children with an age-homogenous sample; thus, many factors were taken into consideration for analysis: VO2 values similarities for sexes, maturation evaluation, criteria for test interruption, influence of body mass index upon VO2, and the interaction between VO2 and ergometer type.

In all of the selected reports, CPX was never performed to help in decision-making regarding therapeutics, because only healthy children were involved. Reports relating to the use of the test date back to more than 4 decades;2020 Reybrouck T, Weymans M, Stijns H, Knops J, Hauwaert L. Ventilatory anaerobic threshold in healthy children. Age and sex differences. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1985;54(3):278-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00426145
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00426145...
therefore, CPX has been shown to be a safe tool for evaluating physical performance and physiological limitations for this population.4040 Guimarães GV, Carvalho VO. Cardiorespiratory test in healthy and cardiopathic children. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2011;96(4):340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2011000400013
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2011...

A large number of trials provided no data on the evaluation of maturation when analyzing children. Even though seven studies did not mention any type of maturation evaluation, they were included in this meta-analysis, because the average age of these children was 8.2 years old, meaning that they were significantly younger than those who had in fact been evaluated. Therefore, these studies were included in this meta-analysis because they had consistently investigated pre-pubertal children.

Many maturation-dependent traits respond in different ways to physiological stress induced by physical exercise and show differences in peak VO2 from pre-puberty and post-puberty.4141 Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH. Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Childhood. 1976;51(3):170-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.51.3.170
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.51.3.170...

42 Weber G, Kartodihardjo W, Klissouras V. Growth and physical training with reference to heredity. J Appl Physiol 1976;40(2):211-5.

43 Mahon AD, Marjerrison AD, Lee JD, Woodruff ME, Hanna LE. Evaluating the Prediction of Maximal Heart Rate in Children and Adolescents. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2010;81(4):466-71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2010.10599707
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2010....
-4444 Machado FA, Guglielmo LGA, Denadai BS. Velocidade de corrida associada ao consumo máximo de oxigênio em meninos de 10 a 15 anos. [Running speed associated with maximal oxygen uptake in boys aged 10 to 15 years.] Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2002;8(1)1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1517-86922002000100001
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1517-86922002...

Firstly, the pubertal stage is associated with a period of insulin resistance.4545 Riddell MC. The endocrine response and substrate utilization during exercise in children and adolescents. J Appl Physiol. 2008;105(2):725-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00031.2008
http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.0...
In fact, children have 50-60% of the muscle glycogen found in adults. Children have lower lactate dehydrogenase activity with higher pH and higher adenosine triphosphate levels during muscle contraction.4646 Taylor DJ, Kemp GJ, Thompson CH, Radda GK. Ageing: effects on oxidative function of skeletal muscle in vivo. Mol Cell Biochem. 1997;174(1-2):321-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006802602497
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:100680260249...
This is because children rely more heavily on aerobic metabolism as fuel when compared with adults. They also rely more heavily on lipid 4646 Taylor DJ, Kemp GJ, Thompson CH, Radda GK. Ageing: effects on oxidative function of skeletal muscle in vivo. Mol Cell Biochem. 1997;174(1-2):321-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006802602497
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:100680260249...

47 Morse M, Schlutz FW, Cassels DE. Relation of age to physiological responses of the older boy (10-17 years) to exercise. J Appl Physiol. 1949;1(10):683-709.
-4848 Timmons BW, Bar-Or O, Riddell MC. Oxidation rate of exogenous carbohydrate during exercise is higher in boys than in men. J Appl Physiol. 2003;94(1):278-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00140.2002
http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.0...
and less on carbohydrate use for energy.4646 Taylor DJ, Kemp GJ, Thompson CH, Radda GK. Ageing: effects on oxidative function of skeletal muscle in vivo. Mol Cell Biochem. 1997;174(1-2):321-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006802602497
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:100680260249...
,4949 Martinez LR, Haymes EM. Substrate utilization during treadmill running in prepubertal girls and women. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;24(9):975-83. Children also recover more rapidly after exercise, 4747 Morse M, Schlutz FW, Cassels DE. Relation of age to physiological responses of the older boy (10-17 years) to exercise. J Appl Physiol. 1949;1(10):683-709.,5050 Silva OB, Saraiva LCR, Sobral-Filho DC. Treadmill stress test in children and adolescents: higher tolerance on exertion with ramp protocol Arq Bras Cardiol. 2007;89(6):391-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2007001800007
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2007...
which may favor activities that are more aerobic in nature than those that are of a brief duration and/or of a higher intensity.4949 Martinez LR, Haymes EM. Substrate utilization during treadmill running in prepubertal girls and women. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;24(9):975-83.,5050 Silva OB, Saraiva LCR, Sobral-Filho DC. Treadmill stress test in children and adolescents: higher tolerance on exertion with ramp protocol Arq Bras Cardiol. 2007;89(6):391-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2007001800007
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2007...

Secondly, the total muscle mass of children compared with their total body mass is almost 10% less than that of adults, 4848 Timmons BW, Bar-Or O, Riddell MC. Oxidation rate of exogenous carbohydrate during exercise is higher in boys than in men. J Appl Physiol. 2003;94(1):278-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00140.2002
http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.0...
,5151 Malina RM, Bouchard C. Growth, maturation, and physical activity. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. 1991:p.151-67. and their motor unit recruitment patterns differ during exercise.4646 Taylor DJ, Kemp GJ, Thompson CH, Radda GK. Ageing: effects on oxidative function of skeletal muscle in vivo. Mol Cell Biochem. 1997;174(1-2):321-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006802602497
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:100680260249...
Children also have lower ventilation, which is compensated by a significantly higher arterial-mixed venous O2 difference to achieve the same or similar VO2 rates.4646 Taylor DJ, Kemp GJ, Thompson CH, Radda GK. Ageing: effects on oxidative function of skeletal muscle in vivo. Mol Cell Biochem. 1997;174(1-2):321-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006802602497
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:100680260249...
,5252 Ricardo DR, Almeida MB, Frankli BA, Arauoj CGS. Initial and final exercise heart rate transients. Influence of gender, aerobic fitness, and clinical status. Chest. 2005;127(1):318-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.127.1.318
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.127.1.31...

Because of all these differences in physiological responses, it is important to consider children separately from teens and adults.

The Tanner -Whitehouse scale is based on the development of secondary sexual characteristics, such as breast development and menarche in girls, standards for the penis in boys and pubic hair development in both sexes.4141 Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH. Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Childhood. 1976;51(3):170-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.51.3.170
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.51.3.170...
This scale is the most common method of maturity assessment; it is feasible and simple, meaning that trained staff are apt to apply it and to have access to the data. The lack of a sexual maturity assessment is the reason why trials that combined information about children, adolescents, and adults were not included in this study.

Regarding differences in gender, this review showed that there were significant disparities between girls and boys on the treadmill. Although there are studies which also show that boys achieve greater distances on CPX 5252 Ricardo DR, Almeida MB, Frankli BA, Arauoj CGS. Initial and final exercise heart rate transients. Influence of gender, aerobic fitness, and clinical status. Chest. 2005;127(1):318-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.127.1.318
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.127.1.31...
,5353 Fraine DES, De-Oliveira FR, Abad CCC, Kiss MAPDM. Evidências de validade do t20 como aproximação do limiar anaeróbio em jovens jogadores de futebol. R da Educação Física/UEM. 2004;5(2):33-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.4025/reveducfisv15n2p33-37
http://dx.doi.org/10.4025/reveducfisv15n...
and higher VO2 values as a result of improved cardiorespiratory efficiency and a greater muscle-to-weight ratio, 5353 Fraine DES, De-Oliveira FR, Abad CCC, Kiss MAPDM. Evidências de validade do t20 como aproximação do limiar anaeróbio em jovens jogadores de futebol. R da Educação Física/UEM. 2004;5(2):33-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.4025/reveducfisv15n2p33-37
http://dx.doi.org/10.4025/reveducfisv15n...

54 Woynarowska B. The validity of indirect estimations of maximal oxygen uptake in children 11-12 years of age. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1980;43(1):19-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00421351
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00421351...
-5555 Bianba B, Berntsen S, Andersen LB, Stigum H, Bjertness E. Estimation of peak oxygen uptake from maximal power output among 9-10 year-old children in Lhasa, Tibet. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2010;50(3):274-80. final conclusions have not reached a consensus about these differences, 3838 Dencker M, Hermansen M, Bugge A, Froberg K, Andersen LB. Predictors of VO2 peak in children age 6- to 7-years-old. Pediatric Exercise Science. 2011;23(1):87-96.,5252 Ricardo DR, Almeida MB, Frankli BA, Arauoj CGS. Initial and final exercise heart rate transients. Influence of gender, aerobic fitness, and clinical status. Chest. 2005;127(1):318-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.127.1.318
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.127.1.31...

53 Fraine DES, De-Oliveira FR, Abad CCC, Kiss MAPDM. Evidências de validade do t20 como aproximação do limiar anaeróbio em jovens jogadores de futebol. R da Educação Física/UEM. 2004;5(2):33-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.4025/reveducfisv15n2p33-37
http://dx.doi.org/10.4025/reveducfisv15n...
-5454 Woynarowska B. The validity of indirect estimations of maximal oxygen uptake in children 11-12 years of age. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1980;43(1):19-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00421351
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00421351...
because it has also been reported that girls have approximately the same peak VO2 per kg of lean body mass as boys do;2727 Trowbridge CA, Gower BA, Nagy TR, Hunter GR, Treuth MS, Goran MI. Maximal aerobic capacity in African-American and Caucasian prepubertal children. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 1997;273(36):E809-14.,3232 Gürsel Y, Sonel B, Haydar Gök, Peyman Yalçýn. The peak oxygen uptake of healthy Turkish children with reference to age and sex: a pilot study. Turk J Pediatr 2004;46(1):38-43.,5656 Hosick PA, McMurray RG, Cooper DM. The relationships between leptin and measures of fitness and fatness are dependent upon obesity status in youth. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2010,22(2):195-204. therefore, peak VO2 was not correlated to BMI itself.2727 Trowbridge CA, Gower BA, Nagy TR, Hunter GR, Treuth MS, Goran MI. Maximal aerobic capacity in African-American and Caucasian prepubertal children. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 1997;273(36):E809-14.,3232 Gürsel Y, Sonel B, Haydar Gök, Peyman Yalçýn. The peak oxygen uptake of healthy Turkish children with reference to age and sex: a pilot study. Turk J Pediatr 2004;46(1):38-43. Our findings support this last conclusion. Although female values of peak VO2 (in mL/min/Kg) on the cycle ergometer were the only ones that correlated with BMI, female values were the same when VO2 was analyzed as mL/min (with no relation to weight mass). This lack of correlation might have happened because the analyzed sample was very homogenous according to BMI values.

In regard to the comparison between the treadmill and the cycle ergometer, the peak VO2 values difference on the cycle ergometer vs. treadmill was not supported by the research data from adults, whose anaerobic threshold, HR, and peak VO2are 10% higher on the treadmill vs. the cycle ergometer.5656 Hosick PA, McMurray RG, Cooper DM. The relationships between leptin and measures of fitness and fatness are dependent upon obesity status in youth. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2010,22(2):195-204.

57 Fairshter RD, Walters J, Salness K, Fox M, Minh VD, et al. A comparison of incremental exercise tests during cycle and treadmill ergometry. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1983,5(6):549-54.

58 Mays RJ, Boer NF, Mealey LM, Kim KH, Goss FL. A comparison of practical assessment methods to determine treadmill, cycle, and elliptical ergometer Vo2 peak. J Strength Cond Res. 2010,24(5):1325-31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c7c677
http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181...

59 Carvalho VO, Bocchi EA, Pascoalino LN, Guimarães GV. The relationship between heart rate and oxygen consumption in heart transplant recipients during a cardiopulmonary exercise test: heart rate dynamic during exercise test. Int J Cardiol. 2010,145(1):158-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2009.07.035
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2009....
-6060 Hermansen L, Saltin B. Oxygen uptake during maximal treadmill and bicycle exercise. J Appl Physiol. 1969,26(1):31-7.

Reports also point out that a cycle ergometer test may require an average of 10 additional minutes to achieve maximal effort than tests on treadmills, 6161 Gardenghi G, Dias FD. Reabilitação cardiovascular em pacientes cardiopatas. Rev Integração. 2007;51(4):387-92. because (i) subjects on the cycle ergometer have an inability to keep up with their performance;6161 Gardenghi G, Dias FD. Reabilitação cardiovascular em pacientes cardiopatas. Rev Integração. 2007;51(4):387-92.

62 Armstrong N, Davies B. The metabolic and physiological responses of children to exercise and training. Phys Educ Rev. 1984;7(2):90-105.
-6363 Wick JR. The use of multistage exercise testing with wheelchair ergometry and arm cranking in subjects with spinal cord injury. Paraplegia. 1978,15(3):252-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sc.1977.38
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sc.1977.38...
(ii) a greater activation of large amounts of muscle mass occurs during a treadmill test;5858 Mays RJ, Boer NF, Mealey LM, Kim KH, Goss FL. A comparison of practical assessment methods to determine treadmill, cycle, and elliptical ergometer Vo2 peak. J Strength Cond Res. 2010,24(5):1325-31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c7c677
http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181...
,5959 Carvalho VO, Bocchi EA, Pascoalino LN, Guimarães GV. The relationship between heart rate and oxygen consumption in heart transplant recipients during a cardiopulmonary exercise test: heart rate dynamic during exercise test. Int J Cardiol. 2010,145(1):158-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2009.07.035
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2009....
,6161 Gardenghi G, Dias FD. Reabilitação cardiovascular em pacientes cardiopatas. Rev Integração. 2007;51(4):387-92. (iii) more discomfort in the thigh muscles occurs during the cycle ergometer test; (iv) less intensity of effort and protocol duration to maximize aerobic energy transfer is achieved on the cycle ergometer.5757 Fairshter RD, Walters J, Salness K, Fox M, Minh VD, et al. A comparison of incremental exercise tests during cycle and treadmill ergometry. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1983,5(6):549-54.,5959 Carvalho VO, Bocchi EA, Pascoalino LN, Guimarães GV. The relationship between heart rate and oxygen consumption in heart transplant recipients during a cardiopulmonary exercise test: heart rate dynamic during exercise test. Int J Cardiol. 2010,145(1):158-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2009.07.035
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2009....
,6161 Gardenghi G, Dias FD. Reabilitação cardiovascular em pacientes cardiopatas. Rev Integração. 2007;51(4):387-92.

The 18-20% differences on peak VO2 values found in this analysis were similar to the 22% difference reported elsewhere;6161 Gardenghi G, Dias FD. Reabilitação cardiovascular em pacientes cardiopatas. Rev Integração. 2007;51(4):387-92. however, smaller differences have also been reported: 7%, 6161 Gardenghi G, Dias FD. Reabilitação cardiovascular em pacientes cardiopatas. Rev Integração. 2007;51(4):387-92. 8%, 2424 Armstrong N, Williams J, Balding J, Gentle P, Kirby B. The peak oxygen uptake of British children with reference to age, sex and sexual maturity. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1991;62(5):369-75. http://dx.doi.org/1007/BF00634975
http://dx.doi.org/1007/BF00634975...
,6464 Mácek M, Vávra J, Novosadová J. Prolonged exercise in prepubertal boys. I. Cardiovascular and metabolic adjustment. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1976;35(4):291-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF0043289
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF0043289...
or 12% higher on a treadmill.6161 Gardenghi G, Dias FD. Reabilitação cardiovascular em pacientes cardiopatas. Rev Integração. 2007;51(4):387-92.,6565 Noonan V, Dean E. Submaximal exercise testing: clinical application and interpretation. Phys Ther. 2000,80(8):782-807 The best way to confirm differences between ergometers would be by pairing the sample and randomizing tests on different days. Although two trials studied both ergometers, 2424 Armstrong N, Williams J, Balding J, Gentle P, Kirby B. The peak oxygen uptake of British children with reference to age, sex and sexual maturity. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1991;62(5):369-75. http://dx.doi.org/1007/BF00634975
http://dx.doi.org/1007/BF00634975...
,6464 Mácek M, Vávra J, Novosadová J. Prolonged exercise in prepubertal boys. I. Cardiovascular and metabolic adjustment. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1976;35(4):291-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF0043289
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF0043289...
only one of them had a paired evaluation, showing no differences between ergometers.6464 Mácek M, Vávra J, Novosadová J. Prolonged exercise in prepubertal boys. I. Cardiovascular and metabolic adjustment. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1976;35(4):291-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF0043289
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF0043289...

The reason for the discrepancies between findings in this analysis and the findings of the earlier studies is unclear because the collected tests had been analyzed as maximal tests. Although in published studies, 50% of the subjects achieved maximal CPX values, 6161 Gardenghi G, Dias FD. Reabilitação cardiovascular em pacientes cardiopatas. Rev Integração. 2007;51(4):387-92. in this analysis we were unable to guarantee that maximal CPX was indeed reached due to the lack of data for HR, BP, and time in more than 40%,95%, and 95% of the selected studies of this current meta-analysis, respectively. In spite of this lack of data, it is possible to state that the maximal observed heart rates were higher the the 95% of maximal expected rates, as previously noted.6262 Armstrong N, Davies B. The metabolic and physiological responses of children to exercise and training. Phys Educ Rev. 1984;7(2):90-105.

LIMITATIONS

This review would be richer if more CPX parameters (RER levels, time of the test, SBP, DBP, HR) had been presented in the original trial reports. The lack of values such as time and blood pressure, for example, limited the current analysis.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The parameters found in the CPX for healthy children can be helpful in arriving at more precise diagnoses, in assessing the severity of impairment, in determining the response to treatment, and in predicting mortality for ill children.

CONCLUSION

Given the present data, the mean peak VO2 value for pre-pubertal children was considered to be 45.7±5.9 L/min/kg, also considering a 20% difference in peak VO2 value between boys and girls.

  • Tavares AC, Bocchi EA, Teixeira-Neto IS, Guimarães GV. A meta-analysis of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in pre-pubertal healthy children produces new information. MedicalExpress (São Paulo, online). 2016;3(1):M160102

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP (2001/08985-0).Guilherme V Guimarães (CNPq # 304733/2008-3) was supported by Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Feb 2016

History

  • Received
    11 Oct 2015
  • Reviewed
    06 Nov 2015
  • Accepted
    11 Dec 2015
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