PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Andrey Sousa AU - Anna Cabral AU - Milton Martins AU - Celso Carvalho TI - Assessment of physical activity with accelerometer in Brazilian asthmatic children DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - p4264 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4264.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4264.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - Background: Although it is widely accepted that asthmatic children are physically unconditioned, however there are few reports quantifying the level of physical activity, especially in developing countries.Objective: To evaluate the level of physical activity in asthmatic children and to compare among asthma severities.Methods: Sixty-nine children (50M/19F, 18.8±3.1 lkg/m2) with persistent mild (n=27), moderate (n=20) and severe (n=22) asthma were evaluated. Children worn an accelerometer for 6 days (4week and 2weekend) and the total steps per day (TStp) and steps walked at either moderate or vigorous intensities (>100 steps/minute) were evaluated.Results: Our results show that 71% of all asthmatic children were considered physically active (male>12,000 and female>10,000 steps per day). The level of activity at moderate or vigorous intensities in physically active children represented around 45% of total step counting and they showed higher activity levels during week compared with weekend days (p<0.05). The level of physical activity in asthmatic children was not related to either gender or weight. Interesting, children with mild persistent asthma were physically less active during week days than those with moderate and severe asthma (p<0.05), however no difference was observed in the weekend days (p>0.05).Conclusion: Contrary to popular belief, most asthmatic children were considered physically active and those patients with moderate and severe asthma are still more active.