The aim was to present skeletal muscular endurance, strength, and functional power among patients ≥18 years with ACHD based on diagnosis. Further, the aim was to analyze if CHD severity, age, sex, and level of physical activity were associated with muscular fitness in patients with ACHD.
This registry study was based on an established data register for patients with ACHD at the Physical therapy department, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden. The patients performed five tests of muscular fitness: muscular endurance (shoulder flexion, heel lift); isometric strength (shoulder abduction, hand grip strength); and functional muscular power (Timed-Stands Test, TST). From April 2009, to November 2023, 1978 patients were eligible in the registry, of which 1252 (63.3%) were included. Diagnostic group division was based on the International Classification of Diseases-10 code, which resulted in 15 different groups.
Among the included patients, 663 (53%) were men and the median age was 30 (IQR: 23-42) years. Significant differences were found in skeletal muscular endurance (p = 0.001), strength (p = 0.002), and functional power (p = 0.041) between the different diagnostic groups in patients with ACHD. A regression analysis indicated that factors such as CHD severity, age, and level of physical activity together could predict muscular endurance, strength, and functional power for both men and women. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed between patients with complex vs. non-complex ACHD in shoulder flexion (p = 0.001) and shoulder abduction (p = 0.034), however, not in heel lifts (p = 0.287), grip strength (p =0 .099), or functional power (p = 0 .375).
The present study suggests that there is a difference in skeletal muscular endurance, strength, and functional power between different diagnostic groups in patients with ACHD. Furthermore, ACHD severity, age, sex, and level of physical activity were associated with muscular fitness.
This study delineates differences in muscular endurance, strength, and functional power among patients with different diagnostic groups of ACHD. The findings hold utility in clinical practice for optimized care and for comparing an individual patient's test results with those reported in the study. Patients with ACHD are a heterogeneous population regarding physical fitness, both within and between diagnostic groups. Therefore, the results of the present study, and tests of physical fitness, such as muscular fitness, are important in order for physiotherapists to prescribe individualized physical activity and exercise to patients with ACHD. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to report muscular fitness in patients with ACHD according to diagnosis.
Muscular Fitness
Physical Therapy Specialty
