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Cohort study on low physical activity level and recurrent acute respiratory infections in schoolchildren
W Jedrychowski1, U Maugeri, E Flak
1Collegium Medicum Jagiellonian University, 7 Kopernika Street, Krakow, Poland. myjedryc@cyf-kr.edu.pl
Insights
Physical activity in preadolescent children significantly reduces the risk of recurrent acute respiratory infections (RARI). Low physical activity is an independent risk factor for RARI, alongside excessive weight.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Epidemiology
- Lifestyle Medicine
Background:
- Childhood respiratory infections pose a significant health burden.
- Lifestyle factors like physical activity and weight are increasingly recognized as potential influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between lifestyle factors, specifically physical activity and body mass index (BMI), and recurrent acute respiratory infections (RARI) in preadolescent children.
- To determine if low physical activity is an independent predictor of RARI.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 1028 preadolescent children in Krakow.
- Data collection included respiratory health, physical activity levels (sports, TV, homework), and BMI over a two-year follow-up.
- Recurrent acute respiratory infections (RARI) were defined as 10 or more infections during the follow-up period.
Main Results:
- Children with low physical exercise had significantly higher adjusted relative risk (RR) estimates for RARI (RR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.78-4.93) compared to highly active children.
- Children with moderate physical exercise also showed an increased RR for RARI (RR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.33-2.65).
- These associations remained consistent across subgroups, including allergic/non-allergic and overweight/non-overweight children.
Conclusions:
- Physical exercise in preadolescent children may reduce the risk of acute respiratory infections.
- Low physical activity is an independent predictor of increased RARI risk, in addition to excessive weight and other factors.
Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to explain childhood respiratory infections in terms of life-style factors like being overweight or physically inactive. In the course of the cohort study we gathered data on respiratory health of 1028 preadolescent children in Krakow. Recurrent acute respiratory infections (RARI) in children have been defined as frequent spells (10 or more infections) over the two-year follow-up. In scoring the physical activity level, the data on regularly exercising sport and the number of hours spent daily TV watching or doing homework have been used. Excessive weight was based on the BMI index. In the total sample, the RR estimates of RARI adjusted to BMI and other potential confounders were consistently higher in children with low physical exercise (RR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.78-4.93) or with moderate exercise (RR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.33-2.65). Than among the highly active group. In the subgroups of allergic and non-allergic or overweight and not-overweight children the adjusted RR estimates were consistent with those found in the total sample. We concluded that physical exercise in preadolescent children may lessen the risk of acute respiratory infections and that the low physical activity is an independent predictor of increased risk of RARI besides excessive weight and other potential risk factors.