Abstract
Introduction: Exercise and habitual physical activity are important components in the care of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Regular exercise and physical activity improve physical fitness, exercise tolerance, quality of life and reduce the rate of lung function decline.
Aim: To compare habitual physical activity between CF patients and healthy age matched controls and to investigate possible predictors for reduced physical activity in CF patients.
Methods: 66 patients with CF (3-44 yrs) and 65 healthy controls (3-55 yrs) were asked to wear an accelerometer (Actigraph GT1M) on their right hip for 9 days during daytime, at min. 10h/day. Physical activity was classified in 5 categories from low (cat. 1) to very strenuous (cat 5) activity.
Results: In general there was no difference in physical activity between CF-Patients and healthy controls. However, young CF patients (3-9yrs) spent less time with strenuous and very strenuous activity than age-matched controls (p= 0.007 and 0.022). Boys with CF had reduced times with activity cat. 4 and 5 (p= 0.047 and 0.002) and girls with CF spent less time in cat. 3 and 4 (p= 0.005 and 0.013) compared to their counterparts. Activity categories 2-5 were all correlated to FEV1%pred in the CF patients.
Conclusions: Overall we found no significant differences in the physical activity of patients with CF compared to healthy controls, which is very encouraging. However, healthy small children spend more time with strenuous and very strenuous physical activity than the children with CF. This may be due to overprotection by the parents and underlines the importance to continuously motivate the children to participate in sports activities.
- © 2014 ERS
