Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a chronic condition caused by a heart defect or structural anomaly present at birth. During the last few years, the assessment of children with CHD focused solely on their physical abilities and any remaining anatomical issues. However, the true impact of CHD is seen in the quality of life (QOL) of the affected individuals. While exercise was once advised against for cardiac conditions, including both pediatric and adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), recent findings show that physical fitness and exercise capacity are linked to improved lung function in teenagers and young adults.
            Aim of the Work: To assess the degree of exercise intolerance in children with congenital heart diseases and its impact on QOL using stress ECG and Pulmonary function testing.
            Patients and Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in outpatient pediatric cardiology clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University on 104 children and adolescents aged 8-18 years suffering from congenital heart diseases during the period from July 2022 to May 2023. , operated or not, cyanotic or acyanotic and its impact on QOL using KIDSCREEN -52 questionnaire, Stress Electrocardiogram (ECG), Pulmonary function. Statistical analysis utilized IBM SPSS presenting qualitative and quantitative data Significance of the obtained results was judged at the 5% level.
Results: This study was done on 104 children with CHD and found that there was a significant decrease in QOL in non-operated, cyanotic and multiple CHD lesion, there was a significant decrease in all parameters of pulmonary function test in non-operated, also there was a significant increase in HR after exercise in non-cyanotic children, a significant increase in HR before and after exercise in non-operated children and a significant decrease in SpO₂ before and after exercise in non-operated and cyanotic children.
            Conclusion: Our results showed that CHD children with cyanosis, multiple lesions, non-operated, or with delayed operation time had worse quality of life domains, pulmonary function, and worse Stress ECG.