Effect of Aerobic Training in Moderate or Severe Asthmatic Patients

Effect of Aerobic Training on Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness and Systemic Inflammation in Patients With Moderate or Severe Asthma: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Exercise training has been proposed as adjunctive therapy in asthma to improve many clinical outcomes; however its effects on bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and inflammation, characteristic features in asthma, remains poorly understood. We aim to investigate the effects of aerobic training on BHR (primary aim) and systemic inflammation (secondary aim). In addition, clinical control and health related quality of life (HRQoL) will be also assessed.

This is a randomized, controlled and single-blind trial whose intervention will be an aerobic training. Fifty -eight patients with moderate or severe persistent asthma will be recruited at a university hospital and randomly assigned in two groups: control (CG) or training (TG) .The study will be performed between two medical visits with intervals of six months and during this period the same medication dosage will be maintained. Patients in CG will perform (an educational program + breathing exercise; n=28) and TG patients will perform (an educational program+breathing exercises+aerobic training; n=30).The sessions will be conducted twice a week, for 3 months. Before and after the intervention, all patients will be evaluated by bronchial hyperresponsiveness, serum cytokines levels, total immunoglobulin E, induced sputum, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), asthma clinical control (daily symptoms dairy, exacerbations and asthma control questionnaire - ACQ), health related quality of life (HRQoL); asthma quality of life questionnaire-(AQLQ), pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. All the patients will be evaluated by specific immunoglobulin E (atopy) through (skin prick test or Phadiatop).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma
• Asthma will diagnosed according to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)
• Body Mass Index <35 kg/ m2
• Patients will submitted the medical treatment, followed by pulmonary specialists for at least 6 months.

Patients will considered clinically stable (i.e., no exacerbation or changes in medication for at least 30 days).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients will diagnosed with cardiovascular, musculoskeletal or other chronic lung diseases;
• Patients with current participation in exercise programs
• current smokers or ex-smokers will excluded from the study.