Impacto da asma sobre qualidade de vida, sedentarismo e capacidade muscular ventilatória e a influência do sobrepeso/obesidade em crianças e adolescentes

Abstract

Introduction: In the last decades, there has been a fast growth in prevalence rates of asthma, obesity and physical inactivity in children. In addition, interaction between these chronic illnesses can cause impairment in respiratory muscle capacity, quality of life and physical activity levels. However, there is still little information on the nutritional status influence in pediatric patients. Objectives: This thesis aimed evaluating the impact of asthma on quality of life, physical activity levels and the influence of overweight/obesity in children and adolescents. Methods: Participants with or without asthma diagnosis, 6 to 18 years old, recruited from two public schools in Porto Alegre-RS were included. The individuals with asthma were selected through ISAAC criteria and the participants in the control group based on the absence of respiratory symptoms. Anthropometric data, quality of life questionnaire, physical activity levels (questionnaire and accelerometer) and respiratory muscle capacity tests were also collected. The classification of body mass index was performed through z-score: eutrophic (≥-2 and ≤+1), overweight (>+1 and ≤+2) and obese (>+2). Results: The obtained results were separated in two articles. The first article showed a significant reduction in quality of life of the overweight/obesity adolescents from the asthmatic group. No significant differences were found in levels of physical activity between both groups, regardless of body mass index/age range. The second article showed that inspiratory muscle endurance was reduced only in overweight/obese adolescents in the asthmatic group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Overall, the results presented in this thesis allow us to conclude that overweight/obese asthmatic adolescents have a reduced quality of life and inspiratory muscle endurance. In addition, no change in physical activity levels was found, despite the high rate of inactivity/sedentary demonstrated.