Daily physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with Down syndrome with and without congenital heart disease.

Creator(s)

Julianne G. Clina
David A. White, Children's Mercy Hospitals and ClinicsFollow
Joseph R. Sherman
Jessica C. Danon
Daniel Forsha, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Brian C. Helsel
Richard A. Washburn
Joseph E. Donnelly
Lauren T. Ptomey

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2025

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101778; PMCID: PMC12145260

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) typically exhibit lower cardiorespiratory fitness and reduced moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) compared to persons without disability. Approximately 50-55 % of individuals with DS have congenital heart disease (CHD), which is associated with cardiopulmonary deficiencies and reduced MVPA participation in non-DS populations. It is unknown if CHD related comorbidities compound with DS associated deficits in physical activity and fitness.

OBJECTIVE: To compare physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiovascular function, of persons with DS with and without CHD.

METHODS: Baseline data were used from a 12-month randomized controlled physical activity intervention of adults with DS. Participants with DS were age and sex matched based on presence of CHD. Measures of physical activity through accelerometry (n = 42; CHD, n = 21), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO_2peak; n = 34, CHD n = 17), and cardiovascular function (anaerobic threshold, chronotropic index, O₂ pulse; n = 34, CHD n = 17) were compared by CHD status using Wilcoxon rank sum tests.

RESULTS: There were no differences in VO_2peak between those with and without CHD (CHD 20.3 ml/kg/min; no CHD 21.3 ml/kg/min, p = 0.44). MVPA was lower for those with CHD vs. without CHD (10.0 vs 13.3 min/week, p = 0.05). There were no differences in cardiovascular function by group.

CONCLUSION: Fitness and physical activity were low regardless of CHD status. Adults with DS and CHD may engage in less physical activity than those without CHD, however fitness and cardiovascular function were not further impaired by CHD. Given the prevalence of CHD in DS, it is important to include those with CHD in work increasing physical activity and fitness.

Journal Title

Disabil Health J

Volume

18

Issue

3

First Page

101778

Last Page

101778

MeSH Keywords

Humans; Down Syndrome; Cardiorespiratory Fitness; Adult; Female; Male; Heart Defects, Congenital; Exercise; Middle Aged; Accelerometry; Persons with Disabilities; Oxygen Consumption; Young Adult; Physical Fitness

PubMed ID

39894685

Keywords

Congenital heart disease; Down syndrome; Physical activity

Comments

Grants and funding

• TL1 TR002368/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States
• P30 AG072973/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States
• T32 AG078114/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States
• R01 AG063909/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States
• K01 AG083130/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States
• P20 GM144269/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons CC-BY license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Publisher's Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936657425000068?via%3Dihub

Recommended Citation

Clina JG, White DA, Sherman JR, et al. Daily physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with Down syndrome with and without congenital heart disease. Disabil Health J. 2025;18(3):101778. doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101778