Physical activity and respiratory symptoms in children: the Generation R Study.

BACKGROUND

To assess the relationship between physical activity in second year of life and respiratory symptoms during the pre-school period.

METHODS

This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, a large prospective birth-cohort study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Physical activity was measured in the second year of life by an Actigraph accelerometer in a subgroup of 347 children (182 boys, 165 girls; mean age 25.1 months) and data were expressed as counts per 15 sec in categories: light activity (302-614 counts/15 sec), moderate activity (615-1,230 counts/15 sec), and vigorous activity (≥1,231 counts/15 sec). Respiratory symptoms were assessed by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Questionnaire in the third and fourth year of life.

RESULTS

Physical activity levels were not associated with wheezing symptoms in the third and fourth year of life (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.92-1.05 and OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.92-1.07 for total activity, respectively), nor associated with shortness of breath symptoms (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.92-1.05 and OR 1.03; 95% CI: 0.96-1.11 for total activity, respectively).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that physical activity may not play an important role in the development of respiratory symptoms in pre-school children.