The effect of asthma on cardiorespiratory endurance (CRE) in children

We investigated exercise induced bronchocostrinction (EIB) and CRE in asthmatic children before and after a 1-week summer camp in the mountains (900 m of altitude). Methods: Asthmatic children from an urban area performed spirometry (Spirolab, MIR, IT) before and 10 minutes after a 20-m shuttle run test (20mSRT) on the 1st and 7th day of the camp. Spirometry z-scores were derived from GLI-2012 equations (Quanjer, ERJ 2012) and percentiles of 20mSRT performances were assigned according to De Miguel-Etayo (Int J Obes, 2014) for children aged 7-9 years and to Tomkinson (Br J Sports Med, 2016) for older subjects. A repeatable flow-volume curve at each testing point was required. EIB was defined as a FEV1 decrease ≥10% after the 20mSRT (Crapo, AJRCCM, 2000). Results: 24 children (mean age 11. 8y, 7-16y, 17 mild, 6 moderate, 1 severe asthma) were included. Most of the subjects with a 20mSRT performance <25° pc had EIB (Table 1). Both frequency of children with EIB or 20mSRT performance <25° pc decreased after the stay in the mountains. Table 1. Spirometry z-scores (GLI-2012), exercise induced bronchocostrinction (EIB) and 20-m shuttle run test (20mSRT) results in asthmatic children at the start and end of the camp. Mean (SD) values reported unless otherwise specified. Conclusions: Asthma had a negative impact on CRE before the camp; the stay in the mountains improved both the bronchial hyperreactivity and CRE in our cohort.