Pediatric Glittre ADL-test in cystic fibrosis: Physiological parameters and respiratory mechanics

ABSTRACT

Background: To evaluate the functional capacity in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) through the pediatric Glittre ADL-test (TGlittre-P) and its implications for respiratory mechanics, physiological parameters and clinical markers. Methods: Impulse oscillometry system (IOS) parameters, vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure), perception of dyspnea and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were assessed before and immediately after the TGlittre-P. Test performance was correlated with age, quality of life, disease severity, nutrition, spirometry and IOS parameters. Results: Twenty-six patients were included thirteen boys, mean age of 9.54 ± 1.94 and FEV₁ of 71.45%±22.67%. The mean time to complete the test was 2.94 min, similar to that predicted for healthy children. There was a correlation of time with age, as well as with some IOS parameters. Disease severity, spirometric parameters, nutritional aspects and quality of life (QoL) were correlated with performance in the TGlittre-P. Immediate increase of vital signs and decline in SpO₂ were observed after the test, without an impact on IOS parameters. Conclusion: Patients with CF showed similar performance and changes of vital signs at the TGlittre-P compared to reference values for healthy children. There were no immediate changes in parameters for the assessed respiratory mechanics. Also, there was no correlation of time to complete the TGLittre-P test with respiratory mechanics, physiological parameters and clinical markers.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise
• cystic fibrosis
• children
• spirometry
• respiratory mechanics

Declaration of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.