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Physical activity affects the prevalence of reported wheeze
W Nystad1, P Nafstad, J R Harris
1Department of Population Health Sciences, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. wenche.nystad@folkehelsa.no
European Journal of Epidemiology
|October 30, 2001
Summary
Physical activity levels influence how children report asthma symptoms. Active children reported wheezing and whistling more often, regardless of asthma diagnosis, suggesting activity may affect symptom reporting.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Respiratory Health
- Exercise Physiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Asthma symptom reporting can be influenced by various factors.
- Understanding the relationship between physical activity and perceived asthma symptoms is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated how physical activity levels impact the reporting of wheezing and whistling in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between physical activity levels and the prevalence of reported wheezing and whistling in children with and without asthma.
- To determine if physical activity influences symptom reporting in pediatric asthma.
- To explore the impact of exercise on the perception of asthma-related respiratory symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey of 2188 schoolchildren (aged 7-16) in Oslo, 1994.
- Utilized the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire.
- Employed multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for sex, age, and atopy.
Main Results:
- Among children with asthma, inactive children reported wheezing/whistling less (66.7%) than active children (89.4%) (p=0.05).
- Children without asthma also showed higher prevalence of wheeze among active (8.8%) versus inactive (4.4%) participants (p=0.02).
- Positive associations between physical activity and reported wheezing/whistling persisted after adjusting for covariates.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity level appears to be associated with the reporting of wheezing and whistling in children, both with and without asthma.
- Children engaged in exercise may report asthma symptoms differently than their inactive counterparts.
- The study highlights the potential impact of physical activity on the variability of reported asthma symptoms, particularly when measured as 'wheeze in the last 12 months'.