No differences in physical activity in (un)diagnosed asthma and healthy controls.
To establish whether asthma affects physical activity levels in children (aged 7-10 years) we evaluated physical activity levels in children with undiagnosed asthma (UDA), diagnosed asthma (DA), and healthy controls (HCs). A cross-sectional community-based study was performed which included a parental questionnaire on their child's respiratory health, and testing of airway reversibility and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). DA was defined as the parents' confirmation of a physician's diagnosis of asthma in the past 12 months. UDA was defined by asthma symptoms combined with airway reversibility or BHR in children without a physician's diagnosis of asthma. Physical activity was measured during 5 days with an accelerometer and a diary, and with the habitual activity estimation scale which reviews the physical activity during the past 2 weeks. The final study population comprised 1,614 children of whom 81 (5%) had DA, 130 (8%) UDA, and 202 HCs. Baseline FEV(1) % was lowest in children with UDA (UDA FEV(1) 94% predicted, DA FEV(1) 98% predicted, HCs FEV(1) 100% predicted). Using the three methods, no differences were found in the physical activity between children with UDA, DA, and HCs. Childhood asthma does not appear to be associated with a decreased level of daily physical activity in our study population.
van Gent
René
R
Máxima Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Veldhoven, The Netherlands. R.vanGent@mmc.nl
van der Ent
Cornelis K
CK
van Essen-Zandvliet
Liesbeth E M
LE
Rovers
Maroeska M
MM
Kimpen
Jan L L
JL
de Meer
Gea
G
Klijn
Peter H C
PH
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010290:Parents; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests