title: Inspiratory muscle function in asthmatic and healthy subjects: influence of age, nutrition and physical activity.
abstract: To compare inspiratory muscle function (strength and endurance) between asthmatics and healthy controls, and the influence of age, nutritional status and physical activity on them.
  
  
  
  This is a cross-sectional study. Asthmatic and healthy subjects, aged 6 to 18 years old, recruited from two public schools in Southern Brazil were included in the study. Asthmatic subjects were selected using the criteria presented by the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Children and control subjects based on the absence of respiratory symptoms. Anthropometric data was measured, body mass index calculated and subjects classified as normal weight, overweight or obese. Physical activity levels, maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and inspiratory muscle endurance (IME) were also evaluated.
  
  
  
  A total of 314 participants were included, separated into control group (181) and asthmatics (133), with a total mean age of 11 years. When both groups were compared, there were no significant differences in both MIP and IME. However, when groups were analyzed subdivided in children and adolescents, IME was significantly reduced (p = 0.003) in asthmatic adolescents. Indeed, when groups were also stratified considering the nutritional status, IME showed a reduction in asthmatic adolescents with overweight (p = 0.042) and obesity (p = 0.041) when compared to healthy controls. No effects of physical activity levels between groups were found.
  
  
  
  Results demonstrate a reduction in the IME in asthmatic adolescents with overweight and obesity, indicating an association between asthma, nutritional status and respiratory muscle function.
authors.affiliation: a Graduate Program in Pediatrics and Child Health , Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.
authors.forename: João Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Heinzmann-Filho
authors.affiliation: a Graduate Program in Pediatrics and Child Health , Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Vendrusculo
authors.affiliation: a Graduate Program in Pediatrics and Child Health , Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristhiele Taís
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Woszezenki
authors.affiliation: b School of Nursing , Nutrition and Physiotherapy, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.
authors.forename: Taila Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.affiliation: b School of Nursing , Nutrition and Physiotherapy, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.
authors.forename: Andressa Nunes
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: b School of Nursing , Nutrition and Physiotherapy, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.
authors.forename: Andressa Bombardi
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Barcellos
authors.affiliation: b School of Nursing , Nutrition and Physiotherapy, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Brufatto
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Vagliatti
authors.affiliation: b School of Nursing , Nutrition and Physiotherapy, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Gonzales
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.affiliation: a Graduate Program in Pediatrics and Child Health , Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.|c Centro Infant , Institute of Biomedical Research, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattiello
authors.affiliation: a Graduate Program in Pediatrics and Child Health , Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.|b School of Nursing , Nutrition and Physiotherapy, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.|c Centro Infant , Institute of Biomedical Research, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) , Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcio Vinícius Fagundes
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Donadio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049628:Body Size; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Respiratory muscle; asthma; obesity; physical activity; physical endurance