Children with Congenital Heart Disease Are Active but Need to Keep Moving: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Wrist-Worn Physical Activity Trackers

Objective To compare daily physical activity of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) with healthy peers measured using wearables bracelets in a large cohort. Additionally, subjectively estimated and objectively measured physical activity was compared. Study design From September 2017 to May 2019, 162 children (11.8 +/- 3.2 years; 60 girls) with various CHD participated in a self-estimated and wearable-based physical activity assessment. Step-count and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were recorded with the Garmin vivofit jr. for 7 consecutive days and compared with a reference cohort (RC) of 96 healthy children (10.9 +/- 3.8 years; 49 girls). Results Children with CHD were active and 123 (75.9%) achieved 60 minutes physical activity on a weekly average according to the World Health Organization criteria as 81 (84.3%) of the healthy peers did (P = .217). After correction for age, sex, and seasonal effects, only slightly lower step count (CHD: 10 206 +/- 3178 steps vs RC: 11 142 +/- 3136 steps; P = .040) but no lower moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (CHD: 80.5 +/- 25.6 minutes/day vs RC: 81.5 +/- 25.3 minutes/day; P = .767) occurred comparing CHD with RC. In children with CHD higher age (P = .004), overweight or obesity (P = .016), complex severity (P = .046), and total cavopulmonary connection (P = .027) were associated with not meeting World Health Organization criteria. Subjective estimation of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was fairly correct in half of all children with CHD. Conclusions Even though the majority is sufficiently active, physical activity needs to be promoted in overweight or obese patients, patients with complex CHD severity, and in particular in those with total cavopulmonary connection.