title: The difference in amount of physical activity performed by children with and without asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Despite the benefits of a physically active lifestyle, some studies suggest fear of exacerbations by both children and their parents limit physical activity in children with asthma. We undertook a systematic review to quantify the difference in objectively measured physical activity levels of children and adolescents with and without asthma.
  
  
  
  MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE.
  
  
  
  English language observational studies of children and adolescents to the age of 18 that compared objectively measured physical activity (accelerometer or pedometer devices) between those with asthma and without asthma.
  
  
  
  Overall 22,285 articles were retrieved with 12 studies being included in the review: 1 cohort, 1 case-control and 10 cross-sectional. A meta-analysis of accelerometry data from the single cohort study and 8 cross-sectional studies produced an overall mean difference of 0.01 (95% CI: -0.09-0.11) activity counts per minute in children and adolescents without asthma compared to those with asthma.
  
  
  
  We did not find any evidence that children and adolescents with and without asthma engaged in different amounts of physical activity when measured objectively by accelerometers. Children and adolescents with asthma may not require differentially targeted policies to encourage more physical activity, however further longitudinal studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Heath , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.|b Murdoch Childrens Research Institute , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Raisa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cassim
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Heath , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.|b Murdoch Childrens Research Institute , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Koplin
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Heath , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.|b Murdoch Childrens Research Institute , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Shyamali C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dharmage
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Heath , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.|c Department of Community Medicine , University of Sri Jayewardenepura , Nugegoda , Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Baddewithana C V
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Senaratna
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Heath , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.|b Murdoch Childrens Research Institute , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lodge
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Heath , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.|b Murdoch Childrens Research Institute , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Heath , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.|b Murdoch Childrens Research Institute , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans
keywords: Physical activity; asthma; child; systematic review