Effects of Aerobic Training on Airway Inflammation in Asthmatic Patients

Author(s)

Rodrigues Mendes, Felipe Augusto ^[1] ; Almeida, Francine Maria ^[2] ; Cukier, Alberto ^[3] ; Stelmach, Rafael ^[3] ; Jacob-Filho, Wilson ^[4] ; Martins, Milton A. ^[2] ; Fernandes Carvalho, Celso Ricardo ^{[2, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dep Phys Therapy, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Med, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Pulm, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Geriatr, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE; v. 43, n. 2, p. 197-203, FEB 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 87

Abstract

MENDES, F. A. R., F. M. ALMEIDA, A. CUKIER, R. STELMACH, W. JACOB-FILHO, M. A. MARTINS, and C. R. F. CARVALHO. Effects of Aerobic Training on Airway Inflammation in Asthmatic Patients. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 197-203, 2011. Purpose: There is evidence suggesting that physical activity has anti-inflammatory effects in many chronic diseases; however, the role of exercise in airway inflammation in asthma is poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the effects of an aerobic training program on eosinophil inflammation (primary aim) and nitric oxide (secondary aim) in patients with moderate or severe persistent asthma. Methods: Sixty-eight patients randomly assigned to either control (CG) or aerobic training (TG) groups were studied during the period between medical consultations. Patients in the CG (educational program + breathing exercises; N = 34) and TG (educational program + breathing exercises + aerobic training; N = 34) were examined twice a week during a 3-month period. Before and after the intervention, patients underwent induced sputum, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), pulmonary function, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Asthma symptom-free days were quantified monthly, and asthma exacerbation was monitored during 3 months of intervention. Results: At 3 months, decreases in the total and eosinophil cell counts in induced sputum (P = 0.004) and in the levels of FeNO (P = 0.009) were observed after intervention only in the TG. The number of asthma symptom-free days and (V) over dotO(2max) also significantly improved (P < 0.001), and lower asthma exacerbation occurred in the TG (P < 0.01). In addition, the TG presented a strong positive relationship between baseline FeNO and eosinophil counts as well as their improvement after training (r = 0.77 and r = 0.9, respectively). Conclusions: Aerobic training reduces sputum eosinophil and FeNO in patients with moderate or severe asthma, and these benefits were more significant in subjects with higher levels of inflammation. These results suggest that aerobic training might be useful as an adjuvant therapy in asthmatic patients under optimized medical treatment. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 02/08422-7 - Mechanisms of pulmonary inflammation in asthma: clinical and experimental studies
• Grantee: Milton de Arruda Martins
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants