Cardiorespiratory test in healthy and cardiopathic children.

Respiratory function tests; exercise test; child. The maximal cardiorespiratory test on treadmill or bicycle ergometer is used to evaluate the cardiac, vascular, respiratory and metabolic performance in both healthy and sick individuals, in addition to determine the physiopathological causes that limit it1. The protocols are selected according to the objectives and the experiences of the laboratories that perform them and can be treadmill ramp protocols independent from the ergometer. Thus, Prado et al2 studied the cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses during the progressive exercise test in children, comparing the results with those obtained in adults. The study results demonstrated that the children present lower cardiovascular and respiratory efficiency, as well as higher metabolic efficiency during the test; however, when compared to the adults, the children presented similar levels of exercise capacity.