Relationship between exercise capacity and quality of life in adolescents with asthma

To determine whether the quality of life of adolescents with asthma correlates with parameters obtained prior to and after the six-minute step test (6MST); spirometric results after the 6MST; and level of physical activity.

Nineteen adolescents with asthma, ranging from 11-15 years of age, were assessed with spirometry, 6MST, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ), and the 10-point Borg category-ratio (CR10) scale.

Sensation of dyspnea correlated negatively with the total PAQLQ score (r = -0.54) and with the scores of its activity limitation (AL) and symptoms domains (r = -0.64 and r = -0.63, respectively), leg fatigue also correlating negatively with those same domains (r = -0.49 and r = -0.56, respectively). The total IPAQ score correlated with total PAQLQ score (r = 0.47) and with the PAQLQ AL domain (r = 0.51); IPAQ time spent walking correlated with the PAQLQ symptoms domain (r = 0.45); and IPAQ time spent in vigorous activity correlated with the AL domain (r = 0.50). In the regression analysis, only sensation of dyspnea remained significantly correlated with the total PAQLQ score and its AL domain; leg fatigue remained significantly correlated with the symptoms domain.

Higher levels of physical activity indicate better quality of life, as do lower perception of dyspnea and less leg fatigue. The 6MST proved to be a viable option for evaluating exercise capacity in adolescents with asthma, because it reflects the discomfort that asthma causes during activities of daily living.