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CompletedNCT04876209SAIN&NORMESUpdated Oct 27, 2023

Reference Values of Aerobic Fitness in the Contemporary Paediatric Population

An observational study in Healthy and Obese, sponsored by University Hospital, Montpellier. Completed at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 6 Years to 17 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-10-27.

Sponsored by University Hospital, Montpellier · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrollment
950
Ages
6 Years to 17 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

In most pediatric medical conditions, tremendous progress in pediatrics has significantly improved the overall prognosis and transferred the mortality from childhood to adulthood. Nevertheless, chronic diseases remain the leading cause of death and physical inactivity appears to be a major aggravating factor. Yet, a good physical activity has a positive impact on quality of life and prevents future health morbidities, such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, after focusing on the survival of children with chronic diseases, more attention is being given to health-related quality of life and secondary prevention.

In this context, the cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET), which is a non-invasive and dynamic examination, has become the gold standard to identify subjects with impaired physical capacity and to identify the causes of their limitations (muscular, cardiac, respiratory, behavioral, etc.). Moreover, CPET is the key examination to enroll patients in personalized physical rehabilitation programs (muscle deconditioning, respiratory limitation, etc.).

Despite a growing interest in CPET and individualized rehabilitation programs for chronic diseases, the investigators still face the lack of reference values for pediatric CPET. In current practice, many CPET pediatric laboratories use the reference values of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) defined by Cooper et al. in 1984, from a cohort of 109 healthy children. However, their equations are linear and based on weight only. Non linear equations and the use of other anthropometric variables may be relevant in pediatrics. For instance, in the current era, normal CPET pediatric values should consider the prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood general population (respectively 30% and 10% in Europa and 35% and 25% in North America), as well as in the population of children with chronic disease.

In the past decade, our group has developed a research program on physical capacity in children, with a focus on pediatric CPET and physical rehabilitation, from a cohort of nearly 1000 exercise tests in children. The lack of reliable pediatric reference values for VO2max, and all CPET variables as well, has become an important issue.

In this study, the investigators aim to define pediatric reference CPET values from a large cohort of 6 to 17 year-old children, using several anthropometric variables to define the most appropriate Z-scores equations (part 1). The investigators will also validate the Z-scores equations using an independent population (part 2).

Read the detailed description

This cross-sectional study included healthy children from 6 to 17 years old and obese children with no other comorbidities other than those due to metabolic syndrome (hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes sleep apnea, hepatic steatosis). Patients refuse the use of medical data will be excluded.

Part 1 - Z-score equations: After description of the study sample, the regression method will be identified (linear, polynomial, logarithmic, spline, etc.). The main anthropometric determinants (age, gender, height, weight, BMI) will be tested, and the mathematical models that best fit to the data will be identified (use of the adjusted coefficient of determination R2). The models will calculate, for each subject, the difference between the value predicted by the model and the value actually observed (residuals of the model). The occurrence of heteroscedasticity (e.g. the circumstance in which the variability of a variable is unequal across the range of values of a second variable that predicts it) will be tested. The Z-scores will be measured by the difference between predicted values and observed values divided by the calculated standard deviation.

Part 2- Validation of Z-score equations from an independent population The validity of the Z-score equations will be tested on a cohort of 100 pediatric in 6 to 18 year-old children, from pediatric CPET laboratories that did not participate in the part 1 study. The CPET variables may be retrospectively collected from existing database or prospectively collected, but no CPET should be performed for the only purpose of the research (observational study)

02

Conditions studied

  • Healthy
  • Obese

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • Cardiopulmonary exercise test
  • Z score
  • Pediatric
  • VO2max
  • VE/VCO2 slope
03

In context

Obesity

6,570 studies on the registry are indexed under Obesity; 1,718 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 950 is above the median of 132 across 1,338 observational studies indexed under Obesity.

Browse Obesity studies →

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Montpellier is the lead sponsor of 1,261 studies on the registry; 227 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
6 Years to 17 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Healthy children cohort consisted of children referred to a paediatric cardiologist for a nonsevere functional symptom related to exercise (murmur, palpitation, chest pain, and dyspnoea) or for a medical sports certificate. Obese children cohort consisted of children with BMI > 85e percentile referred to a paediatric cardiologist for checkup.

Eligibility criteria

Part 1 - Z-score equations:

Healthy children:

Inclusion criteria

  • Child from 6 to 17 years old having performed a cardio-respiratory exercise test for chest pain, dyspnea on exertion, heart murmur and whose results do not find:
  • congenital heart disease (normal echocardiography and ECG)
  • respiratory disease (normal FEV1 and FVC)
  • Child having performed a maximal cardio-respiratory stress exercise until exhaustion.

Exclusion criteria:

  • Child taking long-term drug treatment
  • Child with chronic disease
  • Parents' refusal to use medical data.

Obese children:

Inclusion criteria

  • Child with BMI>85e percentile
  • Child from 6 to 17 years old having performed a cardio-respiratory exercise test for checkup and whose results do not find:
  • congenital heart disease (normal echocardiography and ECG)
  • Child having performed a maximal cardio-respiratory stress exercise until exhaustion.

Exclusion criteria:

  • Child taking long-term drug treatment (except for their metabolic syndrome)
  • Child with chronic disease (except their metabolic syndrome)
  • Parents' refusal to use medical data.

Part 2 : Validation of Z-score equations from an independent population The same criteria will be used for the patients of the Munich center and the Boston center to test our equations

05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrollment
950 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. identify the parameters of an equation for calculating VO2max Z-scores

    identify the parameters of an equation for calculating VO2max Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: day 1

  2. estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating VO2max Z-scores

    estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating VO2max Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: day 1

Secondary outcomes

  1. validity of the VO2max Z-score equations

    validity of the VO2max Z-score equations will be tested from cohort from pediatric CPET laboratories that did not participate in the part 1 study. To analyze this, we will compare the difference between the measured VO2max and the VO2max predicted by the Wassermann equation (Wassermann's predicted value - observed value) and the difference between the measured VO2max and the VO2max predicted by our equation (Gavotto's predicted value - observed value)

    Time frame: day 1

  2. identify the parameters of an equation for calculating ventilatory anaerobic threshold Z-scores

    identify the parameters of an equation for calculating ventilatory anaerobic threshold Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  3. estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating ventilatory anaerobic threshold Z-scores

    estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating ventilatory anaerobic threshold Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  4. identify the parameters of an equation for calculating VE/VCO2 slope Z-scores

    identify the parameters of an equation for calculating VE/VCO2 slope Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  5. estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating VE/VCO2 slope Z-scores

    estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating VE/VCO2 slope Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  6. identify the parameters of an equation for calculating oxygen uptake efficiency slope Z-scores

    identify the parameters of an equation for calculating oxygen uptake efficiency slope Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  7. estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating oxygen uptake efficiency slope Z-scores

    estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating oxygen uptake efficiency slope Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  8. identify the parameters of an equation for calculating oxygen pulse Z-scores

    identify the parameters of an equation for calculating oxygen pulse Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  9. estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating oxygen pulse Z-scores

    estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating oxygen pulse Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  10. identify the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal respiratory frequency Z-scores

    identify the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal respiratory frequency Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  11. stimate the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal respiratory frequency Z-scores

    estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal respiratory frequency Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  12. identify the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal maximal tidal volume Z-scores

    identify the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal maximal tidal volume Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  13. estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal maximal tidal volume Z-scores

    estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal maximal tidal volume Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  14. identify the parameters of an equation for calculating breath reserve Z-scores

    identify the parameters of an equation for calculating breath reserve Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  15. estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating breath reserve Z-scores

    estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating breath reserve Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  16. estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal pet end tidal CO2 Z-scores

    estimate the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal pet end tidal CO2 Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

  17. identify the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal pet end tidal CO2 Z-scores

    identify the parameters of an equation for calculating maximal pet end tidal CO2 Z-scores (potentially using age, sex, height, weight or skin surface area)

    Time frame: 1 day

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Uh Montpellier
    Montpellier, 34295, France
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Amedro P, Matecki S, Pereira Dos Santos T, Guillaumont S, Rhodes J, Yin SM, Hager A, Hock J, De La Villeon G, Moreau J, Requirand A, Souilla L, Vincenti M, Picot MC, Huguet H, Mura T, Gavotto A. Reference Values of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Parameters in the Contemporary Paediatric Population. Sports Med Open. 2023 Aug 1;9(1):68. doi: 10.1186/s40798-023-00622-3. PubMed 37528295 ↗
  • Gavotto A, Mura T, Rhodes J, Yin SM, Hager A, Hock J, Guillaumont S, Vincenti M, De La Villeon G, Requirand A, Picot MC, Huguet H, Souilla L, Moreau J, Matecki S, Amedro P. Reference values of aerobic fitness in the contemporary paediatric population. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2023 Jul 12;30(9):820-829. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad054. PubMed 36809338 ↗
  • Peiro-Molina E, Gavotto A, Robert J, Andrianoely M, Rezola E, Manso B, Ferrer-Sargues FJ, Carrasco-Moreno JI, Matecki S, Hager A, Gauthier N, Yin SM, Guillaumont S, Mura T, Borreguero JMB, Amedro P; QUALIREHAB study group. Validation of a VO2max Z-score model for fitness assessment in a healthy Spanish pediatric population. Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2026 Aug;79(8):680-690. doi: 10.1016/j.rec.2026.02.006. Epub 2026 Mar 3. English, Spanish. PubMed 41785991 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided — NC

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Nov 2019 to primary completion in Jan 2021, 14 months.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
May 2, 2021
First posted
May 6, 2021
StartActual
Nov 1, 2019
Primary completionActual
Jan 1, 2021
CompletionActual
May 1, 2021
Last update
Oct 27, 2023
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 27, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04876209
Collaborators
Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease, German Heart Centre Munich, Germany., Boston Children's Hospital
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
May 6, 2021
Start date
Nov 1, 2019
Primary completion
Jan 1, 2021
Completion
May 1, 2021
Last update
Oct 27, 2023

Study contacts

Arthur GAVOTTO, MD
principal investigator · University Hospital, Montpellier
Pascal AMEDRO, MD, PhD
study director · University Hospital, Montpellier

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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