Respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function in children with rhinitis and asthma after a six-minute walk test

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Respiratory Medicine
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Rhinitis and asthma significantly impact children's quality of life.
• Limited research exists on the submaximal exercise performance of children with asthma or rhinitis.
• Understanding respiratory responses to exercise is crucial for managing these conditions in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate maximal respiratory pressures and spirometric parameters in children with rhinitis or mild asthma.
• To assess the ability of these children to sustain submaximal exercise before and after the 6-minute walk test (6MWT).
• To compare the exercise performance and respiratory function of children with rhinitis and mild asthma to healthy children.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 89 children aged 6-12 years, divided into healthy (H), rhinitis (R), and mild asthma (A) groups.
• Measurements included maximal respiratory pressures and spirometric parameters (e.g., FEV1, FEF25-75) taken before and at 5, 10, and 30 minutes post-6MWT.
• Statistical analysis used Wilcoxon test and ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis test for group comparisons.

Main Results:

• The 6-minute walk test distance was comparable across all groups.
• Children with mild asthma (A) showed significant post-6MWT decreases in FEV1, FEV0.75, and FEF25-75.
• Children with rhinitis (R) exhibited significant post-6MWT reductions in FEV0.75, FEF25-75, and FEV1/CVF, alongside lower maximal inspiratory pressures in both A and R groups compared to H.

Conclusions:

• Children with rhinitis and mild asthma demonstrate impaired respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function after submaximal exercise.
• These functional alterations occur even in the absence of overt clinical symptoms.
• The findings support the concept of 'united airways,' emphasizing the link between upper and lower respiratory tract conditions.