Title |
Peripheral muscle strength and functional capacity in patients with moderate to severe asthma
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Published in |
Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, January 2015
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DOI | 10.1186/2049-6958-10-3 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Elisangela Ramos, Luis Vicente Franco de Oliveira, Audrey Borghi Silva, Ivan Peres Costa, João Carlos Ferrari Corrêa, Dirceu Costa, Vera Lucia Alves, Claudio F Donner, Roberto Stirbulov, Ross Arena, Luciana Malosa Sampaio |
Abstract |
The adequate control of asthma includes the absence of nocturnal symptoms, minimal use of medication, normal or nearly normal lung function and no limitations to physical activity. The choice of a more sedentary lifestyle can lead to physical de-conditioning, thereby aggravating asthma symptoms and increasing the risk of obesity. This study aimed at performing a battery of function-related assessments in patients with asthma and comparing them to a healthy control group. A prospective, transversal and case-control study was designed. It was set up at Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital -Sao Paulo and Nove de Julho University on a population of outpatients. Subjects of the study were patients affected by moderate to severe asthma. A case-control study was carried out involving 20 patients with moderate to severe asthma and 15 healthy individuals (control group). All participants underwent body composition analysis (BMI and BIA) and a controlled walk test (Shuttle test), resistance muscle test (1RM) and answered a physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). The group with asthma also answered a questionnaire addressing the clinical control of the illness (ACQ). In comparison to the control group (unpaired Student's t-test), the patients with asthma had a significantly higher BMI (31.09 ± 5.98 vs. 26.68 ± 7.56 kg/m(2)) and percentage of body fat (38.40 ± 6.75 vs. 33.28 ± 8.23%) as well as significantly lower values regarding distance traveled on the walk test (369 ± 110 vs. 494 ± 85 meters) and metabolic equivalents (3.74 ± 0.87 vs. 4.72 ± 0.60). A strong correlation was found between the distance completed and peripheral muscle strength (r: 0.57, p < 0.05) and METs (Metabolic equivalents - minutes/week) and peripheral muscle strength of 1RM (r: 0.61, p = 0.009). The individuals with asthma had lower functional capacity and levels of physical activity as well as a higher percentage of body fat compared to healthy individuals. This suggests that such patients have a reduced physical performance stemming from a sedentary lifestyle. Despite the existence of few studies reporting moderate to severe asthmatic patients and functional capacity assessment, it is clear that the assessment presented in the current study is a valid and accessible tool in clinical practice. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United Kingdom | 1 | 50% |
Unknown | 1 | 50% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 2 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Germany | 1 | 1% |
Unknown | 80 | 99% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Master | 10 | 12% |
Student > Bachelor | 7 | 9% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 7 | 9% |
Other | 6 | 7% |
Professor | 5 | 6% |
Other | 19 | 23% |
Unknown | 27 | 33% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
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Medicine and Dentistry | 24 | 30% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 12 | 15% |
Unspecified | 2 | 2% |
Computer Science | 2 | 2% |
Social Sciences | 2 | 2% |
Other | 8 | 10% |
Unknown | 31 | 38% |