RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Physical activity and asthma symptoms in a population-based cohort
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP p1172
VO 38
IS Suppl 55
A1 Corina S. Rueegg
A1 Marie-Pierre F. Strippoli
A1 Caroline S. Beardsmore
A1 Michael Silverman
A1 Claudia E. Kuehni
YR 2011
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1172.abstract
AB Aim: Longitudinal data on physical activity and asthma in children are scarce. We aimed to assess, whether physical activity differs between children with and without asthma symptoms.Methods: In a population-based cohort, we collected information on physical activity and respiratory symptoms (wheeze, cough without colds, night cough) by questionnaire at ages 4-8 (N= 5212) and 6-10 years (N=4236). We compared prevalence of symptoms between inactive (0-1 hour/day of outdoor play) and active (≥2 hours/day) children.Results: At age 4-8, 4447 children (85%) were active, at age 6-10, 3686 (87%). In 4-8 years olds, 17% of active and 19% of inactive children had current wheeze (p=0.139), 38% vs. 41% had cough without colds (p=0.142), 27% vs. 33% had cough at night (p=0.003), 12% vs. 12% had moderate wheeze needing inhaler treatment (p=0.565). In 6-10 year olds, 15% of active vs. 16% of inactive children had current wheeze (p=0.636), 36% vs. 40% had cough without colds (p=0.066), 25% vs. 30% had cough at night (p=0.008), and 10% in both groups had wheeze necessitating treatment (p=0.701).Conclusions: Physical activity levels were comparable between children with and without asthma related symptoms, with small differences only seen mainly for cough at night. Further analysis will investigate whether this is due to insufficient asthma treatment, and determine potential long-term effects of physical activity on prognosis of symptoms and lung function.