Exercise Capacity, Muscle Oxygenation, Respiratory Muscle Strength, and Physical Activity Level in Pediatric CF and PCD

NCT ID: NCT07157644

Last Updated: 2026-02-03

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 88 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-03-01

Brief Summary

Cystic fibrosis (CF) and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are genetic diseases characterized by chronic respiratory tract infections. In both diseases, impaired mucociliary clearance, recurrent respiratory infections, and persistent inflammation lead to progressive deterioration in respiratory function. This condition limits patients' activities of daily living, leading to physical inactivity and exercise intolerance. Functional exercise capacity in patients with CF and PCD is reduced due to increased respiratory load, musculoskeletal involvement, and nutritional deficiencies. In exercise tests involving the upper and lower extremities, both patient groups exhibited significantly lower performance compared to healthy individuals. Muscle oxygenation is particularly reduced in patients with cystic fibrosis and is associated with inadequate oxygen delivery to peripheral muscles, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased muscle fatigue. Although studies on muscle oxygenation in PCD patients are limited, it is thought to be affected by similar pathophysiological mechanisms. Respiratory muscle strength is weakened in both patient groups due to chronic cough, hyperinflation, and increased respiratory effort. This is particularly evident in a significant decrease in inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength. The number of studies in the literature evaluating muscle oxygenation, respiratory muscle strength, and physical activity levels in patients with CF and PCD is limited. There are no studies comparing muscle oxygenation between patients with CF and PCD.

Detailed Description

In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), lower extremity exercise capacity, skeletal muscle function, respiratory muscle strength, and physical activity levels are limited by various pathophysiological mechanisms. In CF patients, lower extremity exercise capacity is significantly reduced due to ventilation limitation, respiratory muscle fatigue, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Early fatigue findings such as delayed oxygen uptake and lactate accumulation have been reported in lower extremity-specific exercise tests. In PCD patients, respiratory workload increases due to ventilation-perfusion mismatch and impaired mucociliary clearance, which can limit muscle oxygen utilization during exercise. Recent studies have shown that PCD patients have lower resting muscle oxygen saturation compared to healthy individuals, but these values are relatively maintained during exercise. In CF, respiratory muscle strength is weakened, particularly at the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, leading to a decrease in ventilatory reserve during exercise. Similarly, submaximal respiratory muscle fatigue and decreased inspiratory muscle strength have been reported in patients with PCD. Regarding physical activity levels, daily activity levels in both patient groups are significantly lower than in healthy peers, and this has been associated with disease progression, muscle dysfunction, and exercise intolerance. Objectively measured studies in children and adolescents with CF have reported that they fall below the recommended daily activity level, and this inadequacy negatively impacts muscle function over time. A similar tendency toward physical inactivity is also found in PCD patients, and this is considered directly related to exercise capacity. The number of studies in the literature evaluating muscle oxygenation, respiratory muscle strength, and physical activity levels in patients with CF and PCD is limited. There are no studies comparing muscle oxygenation in patients with CF and PCD. The aim of our study was to compare functional exercise capacity, muscle oxygenation, respiratory muscle strength, and physical activity in children with CF, PCD, and healthy children.

Conditions

Cystic Fibrosis (CF); Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD)

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: OTHER
• Study Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Patient with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Demographic information (age, gender, education level), physical characteristics (weight, height, BMI (Body Mass Index)), medical history (past and present history, family history, diagnosis, disease duration, smoking and environmental exposure, exacerbation status within the last year, number of hospital admissions and hospitalizations, medications used, parental consanguinity, socioeconomic status, number of siblings diagnosed with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) or, cystic fibrosis (CF) body weight, height, and BMI Z scores were recorded. Pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and endurance, functional exercise capacity, muscle oxygenation, and physical activity level were assessed for all individuals.

No interventions assigned to this group

Patient with Cystic Fibrosis

Demographic information (age, gender, education level), physical characteristics (weight, height, BMI (Body Mass Index)), medical history (past and present history, family history, diagnosis, disease duration, smoking and environmental exposure, exacerbation status within the last year, number of hospital admissions and hospitalizations, medications used, parental consanguinity, socioeconomic status, number of siblings diagnosed with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) or, cystic fibrosis (CF) body weight, height, and BMI Z scores were recorded. Pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and endurance, functional exercise capacity, muscle oxygenation, and physical activity level were assessed for all individuals.

No interventions assigned to this group

Health Controls

Demographic information (age, gender, education level), physical characteristics (weight, height, BMI (Body Mass Index)), body weight, height, and BMI Z scores were recorded. Pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and endurance, functional exercise capacity, muscle oxygenation, and physical activity level were assessed for all individuals.

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Cystic fibrosis patients;

• Patients diagnosed with cystic fibrosis according to the American Cystic Fibrosis Association consensus report
• Between the ages of 6 and 18
• Clinically stable conditions

Primary ciliary dyskinesia patients;

• Patients diagnosed with primary ciliary dyskinesia according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines
• Between the ages of 6 and 18
• Clinically stable conditions

Healthy controls;

• Agreeing to participate voluntarily in the study
• Between the ages of 6 and 18

Exclusion Criteria

Patients;

• Uncooperative
• Orthopedic or neurological disorders that will affect functional capacity
• Pneumonia or any acute infection

Healthy controls;

• Chronic disease
• Uncooperative
• Orthopedic or neurological disorders that will affect functional capacity

• Minimum Eligible Age: 6 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Gazi University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Meral Boşnak Güçlü

Prof. Dr.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Şeyma MUTLU KAYAARSLAN, MSc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Baskent University

Meral BOŞNAK GÜÇLÜ, Prof. Dr

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Gazi University

Betül YOLERİ, MSc

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Gazi University

Locations

Gazi University Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Ankara, Çankaya, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

References

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Reference Type: RESULT

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Other Identifiers

Gazi2707

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id