Physical activity, health-related fitness, and physical performance in children with acquired hypothalamic dysfunction

PurposeSurvivors of a pediatric suprasellar tumor may suffer from hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction (HD), which may result in hypothalamic obesity (HO). The first step in HO treatment is lifestyle intervention (e.g. exercise). Our aim was to assess physical activity (PA), health-related fitness (HRF) and physical performance (PP) in a cohort of children with a suprasellar tumor.MethodsRetrospective study on a national cohort including all children with a suprasellar tumor who were referred to the physiotherapy department 2018-2022. Data was collected on: PA defined as minutes of Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) and number of steps per day, HRF defined as body composition, VO2peak percentage of predicted, mean power, and muscle strength, and PP based on the 10-m walk and run test, time up and down the stairs, and time to rise from the floor.ResultsSeventy-three children (mean age 11.09, mean body mass index SDS 2.36) were evaluated. In total, 24.1% reached the guideline of >= 60 min MVPA per day. The VO2peak percentage of predicted was 71.0% [IQR 57.0 - 82.8] and in 58.3% mean power was <= -2 SDS. Muscle strength was not decreased (median of -0.5 SDS). PP was found to be better than the norm.Conclusion and key findingsPA and HRF are decreased in children with HD, however PP was not decreased. This implies that no PP restrictions are present to engage in PA and that a lifestyle coach can be involved to improve PA and HRF in these children.