title: Reproducibility of maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing for young cystic fibrosis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reproducibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has not been established in young cystic fibrosis (CF) patients using a valid protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen 7-18 year olds completed three CPETs, separated by 48 h and 4-6 weeks. CPET involved a ramp-incremental cycling test with supramaximal verification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximal oxygen uptake was repeatedly determined with no learning effect and typical errors expressed as a coefficient of variation (TE(CV%)) of 9.3% (48 h) and 13.3% (4-6 weeks). The reproducibility of additional parameters of aerobic function [gas exchange threshold (TE(CV%): 11.2%, 16.8%); VO2 mean response time (TE(CV%): 37.8%, 89.4%); VO2 gain (TE(CV%): 17.4%, 24.5%)] and clinical utility [e.g. SaO2% (TE(CV%): 2.2%, 3.1%); ventilatory drive (V(E)/VCO2-slope) (TE(CV%): 7.8%, 17.7%)] was also established over the short- and the medium-term, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results establish limits of variability to determine meaningful changes over the short- and the medium-term for CPET outcomes in young CF patients.
authors.affiliation: Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK.
authors.forename: Zoe L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Saynor
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Oades
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Cardiorespiratory fitness; Cystic fibrosis; Exercise testing; Maximal oxygen uptake; Reproducibility