Exercise treadmill test in children with ventricular arrhythmias and no structural heart disease

  • Dr Beata Pietrucha, Children Cardiology Department, University Children Hospital Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
  • Mrs Agata Sulik, Children Cardiology Department, University Children Hospital Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
  • Dr Jolanta Oko-Lagan, Children Cardiology Department, University Children Hospital Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
  • Mrs Krystyna Gut, Children Cardiology Department, University Children Hospital Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
  • Prof Andrzej Rudzinski, Children Cardiology Department, University Children Hospital Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland

    • The aim of our study was assessment of changes in ECG trace during treadmill exercise test in patients with ventricular arrhythmias.
    Study group consists of 30 pts aged 7,1 to 17,8 years (mean 14,2 years): 19 boys and 11 girls with ventricular ectopics (diagnosed in Children Cardiology Department) and normal heart anatomy – Group I and 27 patient without heart disease age and sex matched to the study group – Group II.
    Treadmill exercise test with Bruce protocol was performed in all patients with assessment of maximal heart rate - %HR ; achieved metabolic equivalent of exercise – MET; presence of ventricular ectopics, ventricle tachycardia during test.
    Results:
    There was no difference between maximal heart rate in both groups
    (%HR – 103,8 vs 104,5) and achieved metabolic equivalent of exercise – MET (respectively 13,7 vs 13,28 ±1,76). Positive test result was noticed in 2 pts (13,3%) from Group I ( in 1 pts right bundle branch block and non-sustained ventricle tachycardia were present during recovery time and in 1 pt with diabetes also non-sustained ventricle tachycardia was present).
    Conclusions:
    In majority of children with ventricle contractions diminishing of ectopics was observed during exercise treadmill testing.
    Children with ventricular arrhythmia have comparable exercise capacity with healthy subjects.