An investigation of Physical Activity levels in Asthmatic Children.

Abstract

Objective: Establish the physical activity levels of asthmatic children and identify if relationships exist between physical activity levels, asthma control and BMI. Design: A service evaluation quantitative research design Participants: 37 Asthmatic Children aged 5-15 all attending the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary Asthma Clinic. Outcome measures: Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ-C), Asthma Control Test (ACT) were used and BMI was calculated. Results: Low PAQ-C scores were found (mean 2.49 +/-0.12 s.d) Pearson's correlation was used to determine if there was a relationship between the total scores of the ACT and PAQ-C. Spearmen's correlation was used Correlative to determine if a relationship existed between PAQ-C and BMI and between BMI-ACT. No correlative findings were statistically significant. A weak positive correlation was found between PAQ-C and ACT [r= 0.12, n=37, p=0.49], A weak negative monotonic correlation was found between PAQ-C and BMI [rs=-0.23, n=37, p=0.18], a weak positive monotonic correlation BMI-ACT [rs=0.15, n=37, p=0.39]. Conclusion: Asthmatic children had low levels of physical activity. The evaluation was unable to demonstrate statically significant findings however it was able to demonstrate weak relationships between PAQ-C and ACT, PAQ-C and BMI and between BMI and ACT. This suggests that BMI and Asthma control may be linked to physical activity levels amongst asthmatic children further research is required in this field is needed to establish the causality of low activity and interventions to improve physical activity levels.