The impact of asthma gravity in the performance of the incremental step test in children and adolescents

• Grant number: 16/25837-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal researcher: Simone Dal Corso
• Grantee: Felipe Elias Moreira
• Home Institution: Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE). Campus Vergueiro. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Studies comparing exercise tolerance in different severities of asthma are scarce, especially using field tests such as the step test which has low cost and is easy to perform. Aim: To evaluate the impact of the asthma severity on physical performance using the incremental step test in asthmatic children and adolescents. Material and methods: 50 patients with asthma aged between 7 and 18 years, of both genders and clinically stable for the past six weeks, will be assessed. They will be recruited from the Asthma Clinic of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology of the Pediatrics Department at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). At least ten individuals per severity according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) will be included. It will be excluded individuals who have other chronic lung disease, comorbidities, and smoking. In one visit, patients will perform spirometry pre-exercise and then the incremental step test (IST) that starts with a rate of 10 steps/min and has one step of increment every minute. During the IST, the pulmonary gas exchange will be measured to obtain oxygen consumption and ventilation during the test. Heart rate and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) will be continuously monitored during the test while blood pressure, dyspnea, and fatigue of lower limbs by Borg scale will be registered at rest and immediately after the test. Expected results: If the higher the asthma severity, the lower the IST performance, this test can be used to assess the impact of asthma on the functional capacity of the individual. (AU)