Effects of regular exercise on asthma control
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Auditorium F202 of the Faculty of Medicine (Aapistie 5 B)
Topic of the dissertation
Effects of regular exercise on asthma control
Doctoral candidate
Licentiate of Medicine Sirpa Aalto
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research
Subject of study
Medicine
Opponent
Professor David Fishwick, University of Sheffield
Custos
Research Professor Maritta S. Jaakkola, Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu
Regular exercise improves asthma control
Regular exercise improves asthma control in adults. Advice on regular exercise should be included in self-management of asthma.
There has been a major development in asthma medications in the recent years. However, the evidence on the significance of regular exercise on the treatment of asthma has been limited. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of regular exercise on asthma control in adults.
In the first study, we systematically collected information on clinical intervention studies assessing the effects of regular exercise on asthma until the year 2011. The second study is a population-based cross-sectional study of young adults 20–27 years old with asthma. In the second study, a questionnaire was used to compare the amount of regular exercise to self-reported asthma symptoms. The third study was a population-based cross-sectional study comparing the level of asthma control to the amount regular exercise in adults 17–73 years old with asthma and living in Northern Finland. Asthma control was measured using the validated questionnaire-based Asthma Control Test. The fourth study is a randomized controlled trial. The aim was to investigate whether a 24-week exercise program improves asthma control. The subjects were 16–65 years old with mild to moderate asthma and living in Oulu area. Asthma control was measured using the Asthma Control Test.
In the first study we found that regular exercise improves physical fitness of adults with asthma, but we found little information on the effects of exercise on asthma control until the year 2011. In the second study it was shown that in young adults regular exercise is related to better asthma control, measured by asthma symptoms. In the third study asthma control was better among those who exercised >5–10 hours a week compared to those who did not exercise at all. The exercise-related improvement in asthma control was decreased when the amount of exercise was increased up to >10 hours a week. In the fourth study, asthma control was better among 62% of the exercise group and 23% of the reference group. The exercise program improved asthma control by 23%, which is significant. The results of the fourth study are noted in the national Current Care Guidelines for Asthma, updated in 2022.
The conclusion of this thesis is that regular exercise improves asthma control in adults. Guidance on appropriate exercise should be included in asthma self-management programs.
There has been a major development in asthma medications in the recent years. However, the evidence on the significance of regular exercise on the treatment of asthma has been limited. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of regular exercise on asthma control in adults.
In the first study, we systematically collected information on clinical intervention studies assessing the effects of regular exercise on asthma until the year 2011. The second study is a population-based cross-sectional study of young adults 20–27 years old with asthma. In the second study, a questionnaire was used to compare the amount of regular exercise to self-reported asthma symptoms. The third study was a population-based cross-sectional study comparing the level of asthma control to the amount regular exercise in adults 17–73 years old with asthma and living in Northern Finland. Asthma control was measured using the validated questionnaire-based Asthma Control Test. The fourth study is a randomized controlled trial. The aim was to investigate whether a 24-week exercise program improves asthma control. The subjects were 16–65 years old with mild to moderate asthma and living in Oulu area. Asthma control was measured using the Asthma Control Test.
In the first study we found that regular exercise improves physical fitness of adults with asthma, but we found little information on the effects of exercise on asthma control until the year 2011. In the second study it was shown that in young adults regular exercise is related to better asthma control, measured by asthma symptoms. In the third study asthma control was better among those who exercised >5–10 hours a week compared to those who did not exercise at all. The exercise-related improvement in asthma control was decreased when the amount of exercise was increased up to >10 hours a week. In the fourth study, asthma control was better among 62% of the exercise group and 23% of the reference group. The exercise program improved asthma control by 23%, which is significant. The results of the fourth study are noted in the national Current Care Guidelines for Asthma, updated in 2022.
The conclusion of this thesis is that regular exercise improves asthma control in adults. Guidance on appropriate exercise should be included in asthma self-management programs.
Last updated: 23.1.2024