Clinical and functional characteristics of the asthmatic children at baseline and final evaluations
| Variables | Group 1 (n = 26) | Group 2 (n = 16) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEV1 pre-BD (% pred) | Initial | 78.3 (16.4) | 99.1 (18.8)1-150 | |
| Final | 80.2 (15.5) | 97.6 (17.4)1-150 | ||
| FEV1 post-BD (% pred) | Initial | 92.1 (18.7) | 109.0 (19.3)1-150 | |
| Final | 91.4 (17.1) | 106.5 (15.3)1-150 | ||
| V˙o 2max (% pred) | Initial | 83.4 (10.5) | 99.0 (19.4)1-150 | |
| Final | 87.8 (11.1) | 91.1 (18.0) | ||
| V˙o 2max (l/min) | Initial | 1444 (215) | 1659 (287)1-150 | |
| Final | 1523 (202) | 1585 (273) | ||
| V˙o 2AT/V˙o 2max (%) | Initial | 46.2 (7.8) | 59.5 (12.6)1-150 | |
| Final | 48.3 (9.1) | 47.2 (13.4) † | ||
| O2 pulse (% pred) | Initial | 91.2 (14.1) | 114.1 (23.3)1-150 | |
| Final | 106.5 (17.1) † | 106.3 (30.1) | ||
| Severe asthma9 | Initial | 22 (84%) | 11 (69%) | |
| Final | 18 (69%) | 13 (81%) | ||
| Medication score >310 | Initial | 22 (84%) | 11 (69%) | |
| Final | 15 (57%) | 14 (87%) | ||
| EIB positive16 | Initial | 13 (50%) | 8 (57%) | |
| Final | 12 (46%) | 10 (71%) | ||
Values are mean (SD) for continuous variables and frequency (approximated %) for the others.
FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC = forced vital capacity; BD = bronchodilator; V˙o 2= oxygen consumption; AT = anaerobic threshold; O2 pulse =V˙o 2/heart rate; max = relative to maximum exercise.
↵1-150 p<0.05 (group 2 > group 1; non-paired ttest).
† p<0.05 (final evaluation vs initial evaluation; paired t test).