Prediction of peak oxygen uptake using the modified shuttle test in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Several tests may be used to assess exercise intolerance in cystic fibrosis (CF), including the gold standard cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and the Modified Shuttle Test (MST). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of the MST as a predictor of peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) and to compare VO2 peak and maximal heart rate (HRmax) obtained in both tests. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including individuals with CF aged between 6 and 20 years old. Participants who were unable to perform the tests and/or presented signs of pulmonary exacerbation were excluded. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical and spirometric values ​​were collected. CPET and the MST were performed in two consecutive outpatient visits. HRmax, peripheral oxygen saturation, dyspnea, and VO2 peak measured and estimated were compared. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients, mean age 15.7 ± 4.2 years and FEV1 (% predicted) 76.4 ± 23.8, were included. Mean values ​​of HRmax (bpm) and HRmax in percent of predicted (HRmax%) were lower (P = 0.01) in the MST (171.6 ± 14.5 and 87.1 ± 7.5) compared to CPET (180.9 ± 10.0 and 91.9 ± 5.4). However, there was no significant differences between tests in the variation (delta) for HRmax and HRmax% (P = 0.17). A strong correlation (r = 0.79; P < 0.0001) was found between distance achieved (MST) and VO2 peak (CPET). The regression model to estimate VO2 peak resulted in the following equation: VO2 (mL · kg-1 · min-1 ) = 20.301 + 0.019 × MST distance (meters). There was no difference (P = 0.50) between VO2 peak measured (CPET) and estimated by the equation. CONCLUSION: The MST may be an alternative method to evaluate exercise capacity and to predict VO2 peak in children and adolescents with CF.

Impact of omalizumab in children from a middle-income country with severe therapy-resistant asthma: A real-life study.

BACKGROUND: Severe asthma in children is a global health problem. Severe therapy-resistant asthma (STRA) in children is a major clinical challenge due to persistent symptoms despite high doses of corticosteroids and results in high public health costs. Omalizumab (anti-IgE monoclonal antibody) has been described as an effective add-on therapy in these patients. The characteristics of children with STRA from low- and middle-income countries have scarcely been reported, and no real-life study has been published on the effects of omalizumab in this group of patients. The aim of our study is to report the first clinical real-life experiences with omalizumab in Brazilian children with STRA. METHODS: Children (6-18 years old) from a referral center who were diagnosed with STRA were included in this retrospective study based on our clinical databases. The included children had undergone at least 6 months of omalizumab treatment and fulfilled the following initial criteria: 1) >6 years old; 2) a positive skin-prick test for at least one aeroallergen; and 3) a serum total IgE level between 30 and 1500 IU/mL. Clinical and lung function variables were analyzed before and after treatment. RESULTS: Fourteen children (mean age: 11.9 years; percentage female: 72%) were included in this study. Omalizumab treatment significantly increased control of the disease according to a standardized questionnaire administered at every visit (P < 0.0001), ceased hospitalizations in 70% (P = 0.02) of patients, and allowed 8/9 (89%) patients to be weaned off oral steroids (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective report, the use of omalizumab in Brazilian children with STRA significantly improved disease control, decreased hospitalizations, and allowed suspension of continuous oral corticosteroids.

Six-Minute Walk Test Results Predict Risk of Hospitalization for Youths with Cystic Fibrosis: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and other variables (anthropometry, chronic Pseudomonas aeroginosa colonization, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength) with the risk of hospitalization for pulmonary exacerbation in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study that included patients with CF aged 6-18 years. All participants underwent spirometry, manovacuometry, and 6MWT during the 5-year follow-up. Anthropometric and clinical data were collected and the time to first hospitalization, total days of hospitalization, and antibiotic use during follow-up was recorded. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients with CF, mean age 10.2 ± 2.8 years, were included. The group had mild impairment of lung function with a significant decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (P = .019) over the 5 years. Respiratory muscle strength and 6MWT proved to be preserved, although maximum inspiratory pressure increased (P < .001) and maximum expiratory pressure and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) remained stable. There were inverse associations of 6MWD in meters (r = -0.813, P < .001) and z score (r = -0.417, P = .015) with total days of hospitalization. Moreover, there was a reduction in the risk of a first hospitalization (Cox HR 0.32; P = .037) in patients with a greater 6MWD. CONCLUSIONS: We found an association between the 6MWT and the risk of hospitalization in children and adolescents with CF. Furthermore, functional capacity apparently does not follow the expected decline in pulmonary function over time, whereas inspiratory muscle strength increases with disease progression.

Inspiratory Muscle Strength and Endurance in Children and Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary changes that occur in cystic fibrosis may influence inspiratory muscle strength and endurance. We evaluated inspiratory muscle strength and endurance in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis in comparison with healthy subjects. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional observational study with subjects with cystic fibrosis and paired healthy individuals, age 6-18 y. Spirometry, impulse oscillometry, plethysmography, manovacuometry, and a protocol of inspiratory muscle endurance were performed. RESULTS: Subjects with cystic fibrosis (n = 34) had higher maximum percent-of-predicted inspiratory pressure (PImax) than healthy (n = 68) subjects (118.5 ± 25.8% vs 105.8 ± 18.0%) and no significant difference in endurance (60.9 ± 13.3% vs 65.3 ± 12.3%). When restricting the analysis to subjects without Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization and with FEV1 > 80%, PImax values were significantly higher, and inspiratory muscle endurance was lower, in comparison with the control group. PImax correlated significantly with FVC (r = 0.44, P = .02) and FEV1 (r = 0.41, P = .02), whereas endurance correlated better with total airway resistance (r = 0.35, P = .045) and with central airway resistance (r = 0.48, P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis with no colonization by P. aeruginosa and normal lung function present increased inspiratory muscle strength and decreased endurance compared with healthy individuals, indicating that changes in the respiratory muscle function seem to be distinctly associated with pulmonary involvement. Strength was related to pulmonary function parameters, whereas endurance was associated with airway resistance.

Bone mineral density, pulmonary function, chronological age, and age at diagnosis in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess bone mineral density in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and to correlate it with possible intervening variables. METHODS: Children and adolescents diagnosed with CF, aged 6 to 18 years, followed at the outpatient clinic were included in the study. First, demographic data were collected and, subsequently, patients underwent a spirometric test. All patients answered the Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (CFQ) and underwent the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and bone densitometry (DXA). RESULTS: A total of 25 CF patients were included, of which 56% were males. The mean age was 12.3±3.4 years; mean height was 149.2±14.4 cm; and mean weight was 44.4±13.9 kg. Most results on pulmonary function and bone mineral density (BMD) were within normal limits. The mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV) was 92.5±23.6 (% of predicted), mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 104.4±21.3 (% of predicted), and1 mean BMD z-score was 0.1±1.0. BMD was moderately correlated with FEV (r = 0.43, p = 0.03) and FVC (r = 0.57, p = 0.003). Regarding chronological age and age at diagnosis, a moderate and inverse correlation was also found (r = -0.55, p = 0.004; r = -0.57, p = 0.003, respectively). However, no significant correlations were found with the data from CFQ, 6MWT, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Most patients had BMD within normal limits and presented a positive correlation with pulmonary function, as well as a negative correlation with chronological age and age at diagnosis.

Densidade mineral óssea, função pulmonar, idade cronológica e idade de diagnóstico em crianças e adolescentes com fibrose cística / Bone mineral density, pulmonary function, chronological age, and age at diagnosis in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a densidade mineral óssea de pacientes com fibrose cística (FC) e correlacioná-la com possíveis variáveis intervenientes. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos crianças e adolescentes com diagnóstico clínico de FC, idade entre seis e dezoito anos, e em acompanhamento ambulatorial. Primeiramente, foram coletados os dados demográficos, para posterior realização do teste espirométrico. Todos os pacientes responderam ao questionário de qualidade de vida em FC (QFC) e realizaram o teste de caminhada dos seis minutos (TC6) e o exame de densitometria óssea (DXA). RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 25 pacientes fibrocísticos, sendo 56% do sexo masculino. A média de idade foi de 12,3 ± 3,4 anos, altura de 149,2 ± 14,4 cm e peso de 44,4 ± 13,9 kg. A maioria dos dados de função pulmonar e de densidade mineral óssea (DMO) encontrou-se dentro dos limites de normalidade. A média do volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1) foi de 92,5 ± 23,6 (% do previsto), capacidade vital forçada (CVF) de 104,4 ± 21,3 (% do previsto) e o escore z da DMO de 0,1 ± 1,0. A DMO correlacionou-se de forma moderada com o VEF1 (r = 0,43; p = 0,03) e com a CVF (r = 0,57; p = 0,003). Em relação à idade cronológica e à idade de diagnóstico, também foi encontrada uma correlação moderada e inversa (r = -0,55; p = 0,004 /r = -0,57; p = 0,003, respectivamente). Entretanto, não foram encontradas correlações significativas com os dados do QFC, TC6 e índice de massa corporal. CONCLUSÃO: A maioria dos pacientes avaliados apresenta DMO dentro dos limites de normalidade e possui correlação positiva com a função pulmonar e negativa com a idade cronológica e a idade de diagnóstico.

OBJECTIVE: To assess bone mineral density in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and to correlate it with possible intervening variables. METHODS: Children and adolescents diagnosed with CF, aged 6 to 18 years, followed at the outpatient clinic were included in the study. First, demographic data were collected and, subsequently, patients underwent a spirometric test. All patients answered the Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (CFQ) and underwent the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and bone densitometry (DXA). RESULTS: A total of 25 CF patients were included, of which 56% were males. The mean age was 12.3±3.4 years; mean height was 149.2±14.4 cm; and mean weight was 44.4±13.9 kg. Most results on pulmonary function and bone mineral density (BMD) were within normal limits. The mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 92.5±23.6 (% of predicted), mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 104.4±21.3 (% of predicted), and mean BMD z-score was 0.1±1.0. BMD was moderately correlated with FEV1 (r = 0.43, p = 0.03) and FVC (r = 0.57, p = 0.003). Regarding chronological age and age at diagnosis, a moderate and inverse correlation was also found (r = -0.55, p = 0.004 ; r = -0.57, p = 0.003, respectively). However, no significant correlations were found with the data from CFQ, 6MWT, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Most patients had BMD within normal limits and presented a positive correlation with pulmonary function, as well as a negative correlation with chronological age and age at diagnosis.