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Association of low physical activity with higher respiratory tract infections frequency among pre-school children
Katarzyna Ostrzyżek-Przeździecka1, Mariusz Panczyk2, Michał Bronikowski3
1Department of Pediatric Cardiology and General Pediatrics, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 63A, 02-091, Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
Higher physical activity (PA) in preschoolers is linked to fewer upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) days. Encouraging daily steps can reduce URTI risk and symptom severity in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Consensus on physical activity (PA) benefits for childhood upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) is lacking.
- Preschoolers are a key demographic for understanding PA's role in URTI prevention.
- This study investigates the association between PA levels and URTI incidence in preschoolers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the relationship between physical activity levels and the occurrence of upper respiratory tract infections in preschoolers.
- To identify if daily step count, PA intensity, or sleep duration influences URTI frequency.
- To evaluate the lag effect of PA on URTI development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Polish version of the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory System Survey for Kids to monitor URTI symptoms in 4-7-year-olds.
- Measured daily steps, PA intensity, and sleep duration using a Garmin-vivofit pedometer.
- Assessed the impact of PA on URTI frequency, considering a lag effect.
Main Results:
- Average daily step count significantly predicted total URTI symptom days, explaining 44% of the variance (p < 0.001).
- Lower baseline PA levels were associated with an increased risk of URTIs.
- In children not regularly participating in sports, URTI symptom severity correlated with daily step count; sleep duration showed no significant link to URTI days.
Conclusions:
- Low physical activity in preschoolers increases susceptibility to respiratory infections.
- Parents should promote PA to help prevent URTIs in young children.
- Higher PA, particularly regular sports participation, is linked to reduced URTI incidence and severity.
Background:
There is no consensus on the benefits of physical activity (PA) regarding upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) among children. This study aimed to determine an association between the PA level and URTIs in preschoolers.
Methods:
In 4-7-year-old participants, URTI symptoms were monitored using the Polish version of the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory System Survey for Kids. The daily number of steps, PA intensity, and sleep duration were measured with a Garmin-vivofit pedometer. The lag effect between the initial level of daily PA and the frequency of infections was evaluated.
Results:
The average daily step count from healthy days was a significant determinant of the total number of days with the URTI symptoms, and it accounted for 44% (p < 0.001) of this variable variance. A low level of baseline PA (initial 14-day "run-in" observation period) was associated with an increased risk of URTI. In the non-sport group, the severity of the URTI symptoms depended on the number of daily steps. No significant correlation was found between sleep duration and the number of URTI days.
Conclusion:
Low levels of PA in preschoolers result in increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. Parents should encourage children to engage in PA to prevent URTIs.
Impact:
In pre-school children, higher physical activity (PA) is associated with fewer days of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms (URTIS). Children with a higher average daily step count have fewer days with URTIS over a long-term observation period. A change in the average number of steps per day by 1000 changed the number of days with symptoms of URTI by 4 days. The severity of URTIS was inversely related to the degree of PA. Children who participate in sports 3 or more hours per week have fewer URTIS than those who do not engage in sports regularly.
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