Patients with asthma have reduced functional capacity and sedentary behavior

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Exercise Physiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Asthma management often focuses on respiratory symptoms, potentially overlooking physical capacity.
• The modified shuttle test (MST) offers a ceiling-effect-free assessment of functional capacity.
• Multidimensional assessments of physical activity, muscle strength, and inflammatory markers in pediatric asthma are underreported.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate functional capacity using the MST in children and adolescents with asthma.
• To conduct a multidimensional assessment including daily physical activity, muscle strength, and cytokine levels.
• To explore correlations between functional capacity, physical activity, muscle strength, and inflammatory markers in pediatric asthma.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study comparing children and adolescents with asthma (n=43) to a control group (n=24) aged 6-18 years.
• Functional capacity assessed by MST distance walked.
• Daily physical activity measured by accelerometer (steps), and quadriceps strength by load cell.

Main Results:

• Asthma group exhibited significantly lower MST distance walked (790m) compared to controls (950m; p=0.007).
• No significant difference in daily steps (sedentary behavior) or quadriceps muscle strength between groups.
• Quadriceps strength correlated positively with MST distance (r=0.62; p<0.001); Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha correlated negatively with daily steps (r=-0.54, p=0.005).

Conclusions:

• Children and adolescents with asthma on regular treatment demonstrate reduced functional capacity and sedentary behavior.
• Quadriceps strength is a key determinant of functional capacity in this population.
• Elevated Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha may be associated with lower levels of daily physical activity in pediatric asthma.