title: Measuring physical activity in asthma patients: two-minute walk test, repeated chair rise test, and self-reported energy expenditure.
abstract: Although prudent exercise is recommended for most patients with well-controlled asthma, many patients avoid exercise and physical activity because they are concerned about triggering asthma. In a sample of 258 asthma patients (mean age 42 years, 75% women), the objectives of this study were to assess the two-minute walk test and the repeated chair rise test and to compare results to self-reported physical activity recorded with the Paffenbarger Physical Activity and Exercise Index (PAEI). Patients walked a mean of 510 feet, required a mean of 14 seconds for the chair rise test, and reported a mean of 1,810 kilocalories per week from activities, mostly walking. In multivariable analysis, male sex, younger age, more education, lower body mass index, and better short-term asthma control, but not long-term asthma severity, were associated with better performance-based test results and more self-reported physical activity. Better short-term control also was associated with less breathing and leg exertion during both tests. Correlations between the PAEI and performance-based tests were approximately 0.38. Performance-based and self-reported measures provide information about various aspects of exercise capacity and can be used during routine clinical practice to assess physical activity in asthma patients.
authors.affiliation: Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA. camancus@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: Tiffany N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Westermann
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wenderoth
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Charlson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D016138:Walking