Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a common type of birth defect, or congenital anomalous. It has been shown by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) (2013) that 1 in every 180 babies was born with CHD over a 10year period from 2000 to 2010. Moreover, previous studies have demonstrated the positive effect of physical activity on the health status and wellbeing of children and adolescents (Jassen & LeBlank, 2010; Penedo and Dahn, 2005). Thus, it is important to consider the effectiveness of performing exercise and engaging in physical activities with regard to children and adolescents with CHD.
Objectives: We aimed to review the literature on the actual evidence of the impact of physical activity on children and adolescents with CHD. The author’s hypothesis is that physical activity positively impacts on children and adolescents with CHD.
Method: A systematic review was undertaken of the quantitative evidence. Only studies that fulfilled precise eligibility criteria were included in the review. Data were extracted from the included studies using a data extraction table, and the quality of the studies was appraised using the Pedro scale.
Results: Eight quantitative studies were included in this review. The available evidence suggests that physical activity and exercise training benefit children and adolescents with CHD. Children and adolescents with CHD demonstrate improvement in activity levels, exercise capacity and tolerance after the exercise training. The limited reviewed evidence suggests that cardiac function, quality of life, and psychosocial behavior were improved after the performance of physical activity and exercise.
Conclusion: The reviewed studies have demonstrated the positive impact of physical activity on children and adolescents with CHD. Furthermore, this review has highlighted the need for further high quality studies which make use of blinding and allocation concealment as part of their methodology.
Biography: Nada Abdulrahman Dahlawi has received her bachelor degree in general nursing from King Abdulaziz University in 2009. Then, she has been granted her master’s in Advanced Nursing from the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK in 2014. Currently she holds a position of pediatric Nursing Lecturer in King Abdulaziz University. Her research interest is mainly in pediatric health care.
