AUTHOR=König Tatjana T. , Muensterer Oliver J. 

TITLE=Physical Fitness and Locomotor Skills in Children With Esophageal Atresia-A Case Control Pilot Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2018.00337

DOI=10.3389/fped.2018.00337

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Patients with esophageal atresia (EA) often experience physical limitations. With increasing survival over the past decades, the focus in care shifted toward improving the long-term quality of life. We performed validated testing fitness and motor skills in children born with EA.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Patients with EA were evaluated using the standardized <italic>Kinderturntest Plus/ Deutscher Motorik Test</italic> after caregiver's written consent. Test scores range from 1 to 5 (compared to an age- and gender matched standard population). Caregivers completed an online-questionnaire on patient history.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Seventeen patients (median age 7 [3–12] years) were included. Comorbidities were prematurity (54%), birth weight &lt;1,500 g (23%), congenital heart disease (46%), developmental delay (38%), skeletal deformity (23%), and anorectal malformation (15%). The mean test score was significantly lower in children with EA (2.19) compared to a control group matched for age, gender, body weight, and –height, (2.75, <italic>p</italic> = 0.04), and the general population (3, <italic>p</italic> = 0.00). Distribution of patient scores was below the 41st performance percentile for gender and age in 54–63%. Caregivers identified notable deficits of strength and endurance. All but one patient complained about discomfort during physical exercise, most commonly respiratory distress (46%) and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (31%). Notably, 93% of subjects participated in regular school physical education classes, and 86% participated regularly in additional organized sporting activities.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Children after EA repair have decreased physical fitness and impaired locomotor function compared to the general population on a standardized test. Physical discomfort is frequent during exertion. To avoid demotivation, locomotor skill should be promoted at each individual's comfortable level.</p><p>The study was registered at <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.researchregistry.com" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">www.researchregistry.com</ext-link> (No. 3707).</p>