title: Comparison between parameters from maximal cycle ergometer test first without respiratory gas analysis and thereafter with respiratory gas analysis among healthy prepubertal children.
abstract: It is important to distinguish true and clinically relevant changes and methodological noise from measure to measure. In the clinical practice, maximal cycle ergometer tests are typically performed first without respiratory gas analysis and thereafter, if needed, with respiratory gas analysis. Therefore, we report a comparison of parameters from maximal cycle ergometer exercise tests that were done first without respiratory gas analysis and thereafter with it in 38 prepubertal and healthy children (20 girls, 18 boys). The Bland-Altman method was used to assess agreement in maximal workload (WMAX), heart rate (HR), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) between rest and maximum. Girls achieved higher WMAX in the exercise tests with respiratory gas analysis compared with exercise tests without respiratory gas analysis (p = 0.016), whereas WMAX was similar in the tests among boys. Maximal HR (proportional offset, -1%; coefficients of variation, 3.3%) and highest SBP (proportional offset, 3%; coefficients of variation, 10.6%) were similar in the tests among children. Precision and agreement for HR improved and precision for SBP worsened with increasing exercise intensity. Heteroscedasticity was not observed for WMAX, HR, or SBP. We conclude that maximal cycle ergometer tests without and with respiratory gas analysis can be used consecutively because measurement of respiratory gases did not impair performance or have a significant effect on the maximality of the exercise tests. Our results suggest that similar references can be used for children who accept or refuse using a mask during a maximal exercise test.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, FIN-70029, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuomo T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Tompuri
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Biomedicine (Physiology), University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Niina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lintu
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Biomedicine (Physiology), University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soininen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, FIN-70029, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Tomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Biomedicine (Physiology), University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Timo Antero
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lakka
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D050154:Adiposity; D001642:Bicycling; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption
keywords: WMAX; blood pressure; charge de travail maximale; cycle ergometer; cycloergomètre; exercise test; fréquence cardiaque; heart rate; maximal workload; pression sanguine; épreuve d’effort