Impaired aerobic function in patients with cystic fibrosis during ramp exercise.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to document the matching of muscle O2 delivery to O2 use in young patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) from muscle deoxygenation (HHb) dynamics during ramp exercise.


METHODS
Ten patients with stable, mild-to-moderate CF (12.7 ± 2.8 yr) and 10 healthy controls (CON, 12.8 ± 2.8 yr) completed a combined ramp and supramaximal cycling test to determine maximal O2 uptake (V˙O2max). Changes in gas exchange and ventilation, HR, and m. vastus lateralis HHb (near-infrared spectroscopy) were assessed. Δ[HHb]-work rate and Δ[HHb]-V˙O2 profiles were normalized and fit using a sigmoid function.


RESULTS
Aerobic function was impaired in CF, indicated by very likely reduced fat-free mass-normalized V˙O2max (mean difference, ±90% confidence interval: -7.9 mL·kg·min, ±6.1), very likely lower V˙O2 gain (-1.44 mL·min·W, ±1.12), and a likely slower V˙O2 mean response time (11 s, ±13). An unclear effect was found upon the absolute and relative work rate (-14 W, ±44, and -0.7% peak power output, ±12.0, respectively) and the absolute and percentage (-0.10 L·min, ±0.43, and 3.3% V˙O2max, ±6.0) V˙O2 corresponding to 50% Δ[HHb] amplitude, respectively, between groups. However, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) was very likely lower in CF (-1%, ±1) and demonstrated moderate-to-very large relations with parameters of aerobic function.


CONCLUSIONS
Young patients with mild-to-moderate CF present with impaired aerobic function during ramp incremental cycling exercise. Because the rate of fractional O2 extraction during ramp cycling exercise was not altered by CF, yet SpO2 was lower, the present findings support the notion of centrally mediated oxygen delivery to principally limit the aerobic function of pediatric patients with CF during ramp incremental cycling exercise.
1Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UNITED KINGDOM; and 2Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, Exeter, Devon, UNITED KINGDOM.
Zoe Louise
ZL
Saynor
Alan Robert
AR
Barker
Patrick John
PJ
Oades
Craig Anthony
CA
Williams
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*
D006454:Hemoglobins; C100003:deoxyhemoglobin; D010100:Oxygen