Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1996 Feb;51(2):207-9.
doi: 10.1136/thx.51.2.207.

Exercise-induced asthma and cardiovascular fitness in asthmatic children

B J Thio  1 , A F Nagelkerke, A G Ketel, B L van Keeken, J E Dankert-Roelse
Affiliations

Exercise-induced asthma and cardiovascular fitness in asthmatic children

B J Thio et al. Thorax. 1996 Feb.

Abstract

Background: The role of physical training in the management of children with exercise-induced asthma is controversial. A study was undertaken to determine whether a relationship could be found between the occurrence of exercise-induced asthma and the degree of cardiovascular fitness in asthmatic children.

Methods: Twenty eight children aged 6-13 with mild to moderate asthma and dyspnoea during or after physical exercise were tested. All patients had a basal forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of > 80% predicted. Twelve patients were taking corticosteroid maintenance medication by inhalation and 16 were not. Two exercise tests were performed on a treadmill to assess peak oxygen consumption rate (VO2max) and the percentage decrease in FEV1 after exercise.

Results: There was no correlation between the VO2max and the percentage decrease in FEV1. Patients not taking steroids showed a greater fall in FEV1 than those receiving corticosteroid medication (mean fall in FEV1 28.7% versus 6.6%). Four of the 12 children treated with steroids and two of the 16 children not taking steroids had a level of cardiovascular fitness lower than the 5th percentile for healthy Dutch children.

Conclusion: Normal cardiovascular fitness does not prevent exercise-induced asthma.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Eur Respir J. 1993 May;6(5):652-6 - PubMed
    1. Am Heart J. 1973 Apr;85(4):546-62 - PubMed
    1. Practitioner. 1989 Jul 8;233(1472):969, 971 - PubMed
    1. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1983 Jan;72(1):23-30 - PubMed
    1. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1983 Jan;72(1):31-6 - PubMed