Correlation of Anthropometric Index and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
Parameters in Patients with Pectus Excavatum
Abstract
Introduction : Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a method used
to diagnose and stratify patients with known disease. The use of
breath-by-breath analysis of exhaled air in a stress test helps us to
understand the root cause and pathophysiology of pathological patterns
causing clinical symptomatology. Aim : Using CPET to elucidate the role
of chest deformity on human physical abilities, to determine the
correlation of the measured parameters with the anthropometric index
(AI) evaluating the severity of the deformity in patients with pectus
excavatum (PE). Methods : The study included 30 paediatric patients with
PE. According to AI, patients were divided into two groups, to patients
with AI below 0.12 and patients with AI 0.12 and more. Patients
underwent CPET using a breath-by-breath exhaled gas analysis method and
continuous monitoring of cardiac parameters. Ventilation and cardiac
parameters were statistically processed, the severity of the deformity
was correlated with the results using the Pearson index. Results : The
severity of the deformity according to AI had no effect on peak
ventilation, VO2peak and WRpeak. By graphical representation and
prognosis of the data, we demonstrated the relationship between the
severity of the deformity and the efficiency of ventilation, OUES and
O2Pulse at the peak of the exercise. Ventilation efficiency expressed as
the slope of the VE/VCO2 curve also had a graphically dependent trend
without statistical significance. Conclusion : CPET data obtained
suggest that physical fitness parameters in patients with PE have a
correlation with the severity of the deformity expressed by AI. The OUES
parameter is a promising parameter for assessing the overall physical
fitness of these patients and a parameter with potential use in deciding
on the appropriateness of a therapeutic intervention. Key words :
cardiopulmonary exercise testing, pectus excavatum, exercise tolerance