Author(s): COPPENS, M., WARNIER, G.1, DUBOIS, V.2,5, IBANEZ, I.2, SLUYS, C.2, VANCAMPFORT, D.3,4, VAN DAMME, T.3,4, FRANCAUX, M.1, PHILIPPOT, A.3, Institution: UCLOUVAIN, Country: BELGIUM, Abstract-ID: 568

INTRODUCTION:
Inpatient care provides a unique opportunity to address global health needs among adolescents in psychiatric units; however, physical health and physical fitness in particular remain neglected in this population, despite robust evidence linking fitness to physical and mental health outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the physical fitness of adolescents receiving inpatient psychiatric care with matched peers from the general population.
METHODS:
Thirty-five psychiatric inpatients aged 12-19 years and 17 controls matched for sex, age, and socio-economic (Family Affluence Scale, FAS) status performed a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness, the Eurofit battery to evaluate multiple components of physical fitness, isokinetic testing to measure muscle strength, and a DXA scan for body composition. Group comparisons used independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests as appropriate.
RESULTS:
Patients exhibited significantly impaired cardiorespiratory fitness compared with controls, with lower relative VO2 peak (mean +/- SD, 32.7 +/- 8.43 vs 43.3 +/- 8.85 ml/min/kg, p < 0.001; also lower when normalized to lean body mass), maximal output (175 +/- 40.0 vs 205 +/- 42.9 W, p = 0.022), power output at 180 bpm (2.15 +/- 0.617 vs 3.09 +/- 0.576 W/kg, p < 0.001), and power output at ventilatory thresholds VT1 (1.25 +/- 0.658 vs 1.80 +/- 0.457 W/kg, p = 0.004) and VT2 (2.04 +/- 0.755 vs 3.01 +/- 0.659 W/kg, p < 0.001); no significant differences were observed for respiratory exchange ratio.

Patients also had a significantly reduced explosive strength (standing long jump : 137 +/- 29.3 vs 171 +/- 31.1 cm; p < 0.05), abdominal endurance (sit-ups in 30s : 14.5 +/- 3.32 vs 20.1 +/- 3.8 repetitions; p < 0.05) and running speed (10 x 5m shuttle run : 20.5 +/- 2.94 vs 17.2 +/- 1.27 s; p < 0.05).

No significant differences were observed for isokinetic strength.

Patients had higher body mass (68.2 +/- 16.9 vs 55.2 +/- 5.79 kg, p = 0.002), BMI (24.1 +/- 5.14 vs 19.4 +/-1.84 kg/m^2, p < 0.001), fat mass (20.2 +/- 9.13 vs 10.0 +/- 4.12 kg, p <0.001), fat mass percentage (29.4 +/- 8.78 vs 17.8 +/- 7.28 %, p < 0.001), and waist circumference (77 +/- 13.7 vs 67.2 +/- 3.81 cm, p = 0.008). There were no significant differences between groups in height, lean mass, or bone mineral density.
CONCLUSION:
Our results show markedly impaired cardiovascular fitness and less favorable body composition in adolescents hospitalized in psychiatric care. These findings highlight the need to investigate effective and sustainable intervention strategies to improve physical fitness in this high-risk population.