title: Determinants of physical activity in young adults with tetralogy of Fallot.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although sports participation is allowed to most adult patients with corrected tetralogy of Fallot, a reduced exercise tolerance and reduced perceived physical functioning is often present in these patients. We aimed to investigate daily physical activity in adults with tetralogy of Fallot and to investigate the underlying determinants of physical activity in daily life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 73 patients with tetralogy of Fallot (53 male; mean age 27.3 ± 7.9 years) who underwent echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and who completed questionnaires about physical activity and perceived health status. All variables were compared with data from a general population. Relationships were studied by Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients with correction for multiple testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were significantly less active compared with the general population (p > 0.05), 55% of all patients were sedentary, 27% had an active or moderately active lifestyle, and 18% of the group had a vigorously active lifestyle. Peak oxygen uptake (71 ± 16%; p < 0.0001) was significantly reduced and related to reduced physical activity levels (r = 0.229; p = 0.017) and perceived physical functioning (r = 0.361; p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adult patients with tetralogy of Fallot have a sedentary lifestyle and are less active than the general population. Inactivity significantly contributes to reduced exercise capacity, in addition to the impairment based on the cardiac condition. Moreover, reduced exercise capacity and the intensity of sports performed in daily life are related to perceived physical functioning. Individual patient counselling on physical activity might be a low-cost, high-benefit measure to be taken in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Center for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Rehabilitation, University of Leuven, Tervuursevest, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Roselien
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buys
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Budts
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Biomedical Kinesiology, Research Centre for Exercise and Health, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delecluse
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Center for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Rehabilitation, University of Leuven, Tervuursevest, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanhees
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult