title: Effect of exercise-induced bronchospasm and parental beliefs on physical activity of asthmatic adolescents from a tropical region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity (PA) is an essential health promotion factor. In asthmatic children and adolescents, exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) and parental beliefs and attitudes toward PA may be limiting issues.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare PA levels in asthmatic adolescents with and without EIB and the influence of mothers' beliefs of asthma worsening due to PA and attitudes in restraining their children's PA, asthma severity, severe EIB, or bronchospasm perception.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional, hypothesis-testing study from December 1, 2008, through August 31, 2009, using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to assesses PA levels in 134 asthmatic adolescents (10-19 years of age, 60% male) from an underprivileged community. EIB was defined as a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second greater than 10% from basal 5, 15, or 30 minutes after treadmill running for 8 minutes. Subjective factors were evaluated through specific questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EIB was diagnosed in 46% of patients and was not associated with lower PA levels (odds ratio, 1.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-3.52). The other factors evaluated were also not associated with lower PA levels, although 78% of the mothers said they believe asthmatic children cannot participate in PA as much as nonasthmatic children, 44% that exercise can be harmful, and 52% that they restrained their children's PA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no association between EIB and low PA levels, although EIB was a frequent event that should be addressed by health care professionals, along with mother's beliefs and attitudes toward PA.
authors.affiliation: University of Pernambuco, Petrolina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio de Valois
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: José Angelo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Silvia Wanick
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Sarinho
authors.forename: Emanuel Sávio
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti Sarinho
authors.forename: Décio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Fabianne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Assis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009043:Motor Activity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014329:Tropical Climate; D055815:Young Adult