PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL IN ASTHMATIC ADOLESCENTS: CROSS-SECTIONAL POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Exercise Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition affecting adolescents.
• Understanding physical activity levels in asthmatic youth is crucial for management and well-being.
• Previous research has yielded mixed results on physical activity in asthmatic populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the physical activity levels of adolescents with asthma against those without asthma.
• To investigate physical activity patterns within a general adolescent population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1,591 adolescents aged 13-14 years from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).
• Participants were categorized into three groups: active asthma, diagnosed asthma, and asymptomatic.
• Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-short version).

Main Results:

• 55% of the total adolescent population studied reported being physically active.
• Adolescents diagnosed with asthma demonstrated significantly higher physical activity levels (64.4%) compared to non-asthmatic peers (53.3%; p=0.001).
• The study included 222 individuals with active asthma and 284 with a prior asthma diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Adolescents with a diagnosis of asthma are more physically active than their asymptomatic counterparts.
• These findings suggest that asthma diagnosis may not be a barrier to higher physical activity engagement in adolescents.
• Further research could explore the specific types and intensity of physical activity in this group.