Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
Randomized Trial
Participants
Forty patients with CF (17 boys and 23 girls; mean +/- SD age, 14.7 +/- 1.7 years; forced expiratory volume in 1 s, 86% +/- 18% of predicted)
Interventions
Steep ramp test (SRT) vs standard cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET).
Outcome measures
Peak work rate (WRpeak), HRpeak, peak minute ventilation (V Epeak), and peak oxygen uptake (V O2peak).
Main results
Patients with CF attained values for absolute and relative WRpeak during the SRT of 82% +/- 14% and 92% +/- 14% of predicted. Nutritional status and degree of airway obstruction did not influence SRT performance. Significantly higher values were attained for WRpeak during the SRT compared with those during the CPET (252 +/- 60 vs 174 +/- 46 W; P < 0.001), whereas significantly lower values were achieved for HRpeak (168 +/- 14 vs 182 +/- 12 bpm; P < 0.001), V Epeak (59.2 +/- 19.5 vs 72.0 +/- 20.2 L.min(-1); P = 0.006), and V O2peak (36.9 +/- 7.5 vs 41.5 +/- 7.6 mL.kg(-1).min(-1); P = 0.008). A strong correlation between WRpeak attained at the SRT and the V O2peak achieved during the CPET was found (r = 0.822, P < 0.001).
Authors' conclusions
The SRT seems to be a quick, convenient, and low-cost exercise test that is well-tolerated in patients with CF with mild-to-moderate airway obstruction. It provides an indication of exercise capacity and can potentially be used when exercise testing using gas exchange measurements is not possible.
Keywords: Child; Adolescent; exercise; non pharmacological intervention - devices OR physiotherapy; shuttle; non pharmacological intervention - diagn; cycle ergometer;