A Meta Analysis of Physical Exercise on Improving Lung Function and Quality of Life Among Asthma Patients

Abstract

Objective This paper aims to perform a systematic assessment of the influence of physical exercise on asthma patients and discuss the intervention effects of different exercises on the lung function FEV1 (%pred) and quality of life among asthma patients so as to lay a scientific foundation for improving asthma symptoms. Methods Both Chinese and English databases were retrieved, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, Wan Fang Data, and VIP, whose retrieval period started from the founding date of each database to 1st, November 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) studying the symptom indicators of asthma patients were collected. Those collected papers were screened according to the Inclusion Criteria and Exclusion Criteria. Then, methodological quality assessments were conducted on the included papers, and combined effect sizes were analyzed by using software ReMan 5.3.5. Results The meta analysis showed that physical exercise could significantly improve lung function FEV1 (%pred) and quality of life score. Trails containing breathing exercise are the main source of heterogeneity, and the subgroup of breathing exercise may have better performance than the subgroup of aerobic exercise in improving FEV1 (%pred). Conclusion Physical exercise can significantly improve the symptoms and quality of life of asthma patients. Except the breathing exercise that showed heterogeneity, the subgroup of aerobic exercise could improve the capacity of FEV1 (%pred) more effectively, which led to a significant difference in the influence of quality of life. However, with regard to the gymnastic exercise including breathing exercise, there are limited same intervention methods and insufficient same outcome indicators. Therefore, more precise and high-quality researches are needed to make deeper verification in the future.

Physical training in adults with asthma: An integrative approach on strategies, mechanisms, and benefits

“…In addition, this review did not analyze the data using the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) of two studies (31,32) that were excluded without explanation. On the other hand, two other recent systematic reviews with meta-analysis showed a significant difference in favor of exercise in patients with asthma (33,34). (34) included nine studies in their meta-analysis and also demonstrated an improvement and reached the minimal clinically significant difference in QoL after aerobic exercise (AQLQ or pediatric AQLQ evaluated QoL).…”

“…On the other hand, two other recent systematic reviews with meta-analysis showed a significant difference in favor of exercise in patients with asthma (33,34). (34) included nine studies in their meta-analysis and also demonstrated an improvement and reached the minimal clinically significant difference in QoL after aerobic exercise (AQLQ or pediatric AQLQ evaluated QoL). The mechanisms involved in improving QoL may be associated with improvements in all domains of the AQLQ, including physical limitations, symptom frequency, socioeconomic conditions, and psychosocial health.…”

Non‐pharmacological interventions for asthma prevention and management across the life course: Umbrella review

“…Besides, similar to the findings from the adolescent stage, a Cochrane review also reported the modest evidence on the improvement of quality of life among adults after 3‐months of breathing‐exercises, though high heterogeneity was identified across studies and dosage and types of breathing exercise sessions remained inconclusive 38 . Furthermore, a meta‐analysis study compared the beneficial impact of different types of exercise and revealed that aerobic exercises were more beneficial than free‐choice or combined types of exercise for lung function and quality of life among asthma patients 39 . Although evidence showed that high‐intensity interval training could reduce asthma symptoms during the chronic phase, 40 no conclusion has been given in existing reviews on the duration and intensity of exercise.…”

“…38 Furthermore, a meta-analysis study compared the beneficial impact of different types of exercise and revealed that aerobic exercises were more beneficial than free-choice or combined types of exercise for lung function and quality of life among asthma patients. 39 Although evidence showed that high-intensity interval training could reduce asthma symptoms during the chronic phase, 40…”

Sociodemographic factors, health behavior, parental or workplace smoking, and adult asthma risk in the United States

“…Our findings could help provide patient education, one of the four essential components of asthma management, including monitoring symptoms and lung function, controlling triggering factors and comorbid conditions, and providing pharmacologic therapy [ 53 ]. Since asthma severity varies among people depending on socioeconomic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics, patient education and physical exercise are essential for decreasing asthma exacerbations and improving the control [ 54, 55 ]. Thus, expert panel reports three and Global Initiative for Asthma has described a stepwise treatment approach and strategy to prevent future risks of asthma onset [ 56 ].…”