Evaluation of submaximal endurance in young children living with HIV.
Joanne Potterton, Renate Strehlau, Stephanie Shiau and 4 others
PMID 35281781WHAT IT FOUND
Children living with HIV who started treatment early walked similar distances to uninfected peers on a six-minute test.
However, boys with HIV had higher heart rates at rest and after exercise. Girls with HIV walked shorter distances if they were stunted or started treatment late.
Key findings
01Distance walked on the six-minute walk test did not differ significantly between children living with HIV and uninfected children.
02Boys living with HIV had significantly higher resting and post-exercise heart rates compared to uninfected boys.
03Among girls living with HIV, stunting and later initiation of antiretroviral therapy were associated with walking a shorter distance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study used a 10-meter oval track instead of the standard 30-meter walkway, which may have affected walking distances. The comparison group included siblings and household members, some of whom may have been HIV-exposed but uninfected, potentially lowering the comparison group's performance. No local normative data for the six-minute walk test exist for South African children, making it difficult to judge whether the observed distances are truly normal for this population. The six-minute walk test is submaximal and may not detect small changes in cardiopulmonary function that more sensitive tests would reveal.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a normal six-minute walk test distance means there are no cardiopulmonary issues in children living with HIV. The study found that boys with HIV had higher heart rates during the test despite walking the same distance as uninfected peers, indicating the test may miss cardiovascular responses.