The Effects of Climate Therapy on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Children with Asthma

Abstract

We investigated whether a 1-week stay in the mountains may have a positive impact on Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB) and cardiorespiratory endurance in asthmatic children from an urban area. Spirometry was performed before and 10 min after a 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) on the first and seventh day of a summer asthma camp in the Italian Alps at 900 m of altitude. Spirometry z-scores were derived from the Global Lung Initiative 2012 prediction equations, and percentiles of the 20mSRT performance were assigned according to De Miguel-Etayo’s and Tomkinson’s predictive equations. A FEV1 decrease ≥10% after the exercise was defined as EIB. Particulate matter pollution was monitored during the camp and in the urban area of provenience. Twenty-four subjects (age range 7–16 years) were included. Frequency of EIB decreased from 58% (14/24) at day-1 to 33% (8/24) at the end of the camp (p = 0.08). Most subjects with a 20mSRT in the lowest quartile at day 1 had EIB (9/11). The proportion of children with a 20mSRT <25° percentile decreased from 45% (11/24) at day-1 to 16% (4/24) at day-7 (p = 0.02). Conclusion: One-week climate therapy in the mountains improved both bronchial hyperreactivity and cardiorespiratory endurance in our cohort of asthmatic children.

Evaluating Potential Respiratory Benefits of Forest-Based Experiences: A Regional Scale Approach

“…In 2002, the municipalities of Sauris (1440 MASL) and Tarvisio (990 MASL) and lately San Leonardo (190 MASL) started to host climate therapy stays of different duration. Those stays and the one-day forest-based experiences allowed doctors to investigate the effects of both on the health of their patients [49][50][51][52][53][54]. Based on the early evidence highlighting positive effects, those asthmatic patients started to attend climate therapy stays of one week, as well as half-day forest bathing sessions, in the different seasons of the year [55].…”