Relationship between exercise capacity and quality of life in adolescents with asthma.

Objective: To determine whether the quality of life of adolescents with asthma correlates with parameters obtained prior to and after the six-minute step test (6MST); spirometric results after the 6MST; and level of physical activity.

Methods: Nineteen adolescents with asthma, ranging from 11-15 years of age, were assessed with spirometry, 6MST, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ), and the 10-point Borg category-ratio (CR10) scale.

Results: Sensation of dyspnea correlated negatively with the total PAQLQ score (r = -0.54) and with the scores of its activity limitation (AL) and symptoms domains (r = -0.64 and r = -0.63, respectively), leg fatigue also correlating negatively with those same domains (r = -0.49 and r = -0.56, respectively). The total IPAQ score correlated with total PAQLQ score (r = 0.47) and with the PAQLQ AL domain (r = 0.51); IPAQ time spent walking correlated with the PAQLQ symptoms domain (r = 0.45); and IPAQ time spent in vigorous activity correlated with the AL domain (r = 0.50). In the regression analysis, only sensation of dyspnea remained significantly correlated with the total PAQLQ score and its AL domain; leg fatigue remained significantly correlated with the symptoms domain.

Conclusions: Higher levels of physical activity indicate better quality of life, as do lower perception of dyspnea and less leg fatigue. The 6MST proved to be a viable option for evaluating exercise capacity in adolescents with asthma, because it reflects the discomfort that asthma causes during activities of daily living.