A Systematic Review of Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time with Asthma Outcomes

Laura Cordova-Rivera, Peter G. Gibson, Paul A. Gardiner, Vanessa M. McDonald

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity and high sedentary time are associated with adverse health outcomes in several diseases. However, their impact in asthma is less clear. Objective: We aimed to synthesize the literature characterizing physical activity and sedentary time in adults with asthma, to estimate activity levels using meta-analysis, and to evaluate associations between physical activity and sedentary time and the clinical and physiological characteristics of asthma. Methods: Articles written in English and addressing the measurement of physical activity or sedentary time in adults ≥18 years old with asthma were identified using 4 electronic databases. Meta-analysis was used to estimate steps/day in applicable studies. Results: There were 42 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Physical activity in asthma was lower compared with controls. The pooled mean (95% confidence interval) steps/day for people with asthma was 8390 (7361, 9419). Physical activity tended to be lower in females compared with males, and in older people with asthma compared with their younger counterparts. Higher levels of physical activity were associated with better measures of lung function, disease control, health status, and health care use. Measures of sedentary time were scarce, and indicated a similar engagement in this behavior between participants with asthma and controls. High sedentary time was associated with higher health care use, and poorer lung function, asthma control, and exercise capacity. Conclusions: People with asthma engage in lower levels of physical activity compared with controls. Higher levels of physical activity may positively impact on asthma clinical outcomes. Sedentary time should be more widely assessed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1968-1981.e2
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice
Volume6
Issue number6
Early online date3 Mar 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by a University of Newcastle and Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs postgraduate scholarship.

Funding Information:
Conflicts of interest: P.G. Gibson holds an National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Practitioner Fellowship; has participated in educational symposia funded by AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, and Novartis; and has participated in studies funded by GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca. V. M. McDonald is supported by an NHMRC Translating Research Into Practice fellowship; has participated in educational symposia funded by GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Menarini, and Novartis; and has participated in advisory boards for GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, and Menarini. P. A. Gardiner is supported by an NHMRC-Australian Research Council Dementia Research Development Fellowship and has participated in an educational symposium funded by Boehringer Ingelheim. L. Cordova-Rivera declares that she has no relevant conflicts of interest.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

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