Effect of asthma treatment on fitness, daily activity and body composition in children with asthma.
BACKGROUND
Although several cross-sectional studies have assessed the daily physical activity in children with asthma, the impact of the level of asthma control remains unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of asthma treatment-induced changes in asthma control on daily physical activity, cardiovascular fitness and body composition in children with asthma.


METHODS
Daily accelerometer-measured physical activity, cardiovascular fitness, body composition (percent fat, percent lean tissue and bone mineral density) and a variety of asthma outcomes (to assess the level of asthma control) were measured over 4 weeks in 55 children with newly diagnosed untreated asthma and 154 healthy, sex and age-matched controls. Treatment with inhaled corticosteroids was initiated after the baseline period. All outcome measurements were repeated after 1 year and some also during the year of treatment.


RESULTS
Asthma control improved markedly during the year of treatment. The improvement in control was associated with a significant increase in total daily activity of 2.8 h/week compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.001). In addition, significant increases were seen in moderate-vigorous activity (33 min/week; P = 0.01) and in cardiovascular fitness (1.2 ml O₂/min*kg) compared with the healthy controls. The improvement in activity was mainly seen during the last 6 month of the study. No difference was seen between the two groups in changes in percent body fat.


CONCLUSIONS
Poorly controlled asthma is associated with reduced physical activity and cardiovascular fitness. Improvement in asthma control is associated with a clinically relevant increase in daily physical activity and cardiovascular fitness.
Vahlkvist
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Pediatric Research Unit, Kolding Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Skovvangen 2, DK-Kolding, Denmark. Signe@Vahlkvist.dk
Inman
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MD
Pedersen
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D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones