Submaximal Field Walking Tests Applied in the Cardiopulmonary Assessment in Congenital Heart Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Submaximal field walking tests are easy to apply and low cost, but it is necessary to standardize their application, especially in the pediatric population. The feasibility and its use in patients with congenital heart disease have been studied. The goal of this study was to verify which are the submaximal field walking tests applied in the cardiopulmonary assessment of children and adolescents with CHD and to verify if they are being performed as recommended by the standardization protocols/guidelines.

Methods: Literature review through a search in six electronic databases, structured in PICO format, without date restrictions. Looking for studies that used submaximal field walking tests in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease aged 5 to 18 years. Methodological quality, effectiveness and safety and risk of bias were assessed.

Results: Five studies met the eligibility criteria with a sample of 160 individuals with congenital heart disease, and all used the six-minute walk test. Note that different methodologies and modifications are used. Only the clinical trial showed good methodological quality.Four studies had low risk of bias and one study had moderate risk.

Conclusion: Although the six-minute walk test is the only test used as a field test found in our research, there is no standardization in the application of the test, making it difficult to compare the results. In this sense, reducing the limitations and heterogeneity in the application of the test will enable more concrete outcomes and facilitate their reproduction in clinical practice.