Health-related fitness profiles in adolescents with complex congenital heart disease

PURPOSE: This study investigates whether subgroups of different health-related fitness (HrF) profiles exist among girls and boys with complex congenital heart disease (ConHD) and how these are associated with lifestyle behaviors.

METHODS: We measured the cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and body composition of 158 adolescents aged 13-16 years with previous surgery for a complex ConHD. Data on lifestyle behaviors were collected concomitantly between October 2010 and April 2013. A cluster analysis was conducted to identify profiles with similar HrF. For comparisons between clusters, multivariate analyses of covariance were used to test the differences in lifestyle behaviors.

RESULTS: Three distinct profiles were formed: (1) Robust (43, 27%; 20 girls and 23 boys); (2) Moderately Robust (85, 54%; 37 girls and 48 boys); and (3) Less robust (30, 19%; 9 girls and 21 boys). The participants in the Robust clusters reported leading a physically active lifestyle and participants in the Less robust cluster reported leading a sedentary lifestyle. Diagnoses were evenly distributed between clusters.

CONCLUSIONS: The cluster analysis attributed some of the variability in cardiorespiratory fitness among adolescents with complex ConHD to lifestyle behaviors and physical activity. Profiling of HrF offers a valuable new option in the management of person-centered health promotion.