Influence of physical activity in asthmatic children

Abstract

Aim of the study: This preliminary study investigated the influence of physical activity levels on lung function tests, exercise test and differences of preparticipation screening (noncompetitive or competitive) in asthmatic children and controls. Methods: We compared functional respiratory testing in 72 asthmatic children (mean age 11.4±2.6 years) and in 70 healthy subjects (mean age 12.5±2.5 years). Each group was divided in 2 subgroups using a physical activity level cut-off (< 2 or > 3 hours spent for week), that way generating 4 study groups: asthmatic trained children, non asthmatic trained children, trained controls, non trained controls. We investigated type of preparticipation screening (noncompetitive or competitive) and functional characterizes. All subjects underwent a maximal treadmill exercise test, determining maximal oxygen uptake by indirect method, metabolic equivalents and exercise time, and performed spirometry pre and post exercise. Results: No significant differences were found on spirometry between asthmatic children and controls. Exercise testing showed, respectively for controls and asthmatic subjects, metabolic equivalents 15.2±2.7; 13.0±2.7 (p<0.0001); maximal oxygen uptake 52.2±9.9; 44.6±8.7 ml/kg/min (p<0.0001); exercise time 12.1±2.2; 10.5±2.4 min (p<0.0001). Competitive screening preparticipation was performed in 45.7% of controls and 22.2% of asthmatic subjects, noncompetitive screening in 54.3% of controls and 77.8% of asthmatic children (p<0.003). Conclusions: Physical activity influences exercise parameters (exercise time, METS, VO2max) in asthmatic children: asthmatic trained children, with asthma controlled, have functional parameters better than non trained controls and similar to trained controls.