Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Children

The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is a noninvasive assessment that provides valuable insight into the health and functioning of the pulmonary, cardiovascular and muscular systems. A number of key variables are obtainable from the CPET which reflect varying degrees of pathophysiology and can provide valuable information on the cardiopulmonary function of a child. The response of the child to the acute bout of exercise of the CPET is quite distinctive from that of adults. In this review we describe the CPET in children, its assessment and interpretation. Available data on Hong Kong children are presented wherever possible.