Physical activity and quality of life of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Introduction: Regular physical activity (PA) is part of outpatient care offered to most people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Objective: To determine the frequency of the self-reported PA and, secondarily evaluate associations between PA with clinical variables and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pediatric and adolescent CF subjects. Method: In this cross-sectional study, subjects between 6 and 17 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of CF were recruited in the outpatient clinic. The subjects answered questions about the practices of PA, HRQoL questionnaire and clinical variables were collected. Subjects were classified into two groups according to weekly PA practice: PA performed ≥ 3 times/week and performed PA ≤ 2 times/week. Results: 66 subjects completed the study, 72.7% (n=48) had PA ≥ 3 times/week and 27.2% (n=18) had PA ≤ 2 times/week. Only twelve children (18,2%) reached the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) to practice moderate to vigorous physical activities daily. The mean age of the subjects evaluated was 12.3 ± 3.2 years, forced expiratory volume in one second 90 ± 24.1% and forced vital capacity 95 ± 20.4%. The group that performed PA ≥ 3 times/week had a better clinical score (p=0.033), a lower number of hospitalizations in the year (p=0.002), a lower number of days hospitalized in the last year (p=0.020) and better score for the physical (p=0.003) and emotion (p=0.048) domains in HRQoL questionnaire. Conclusion: This study concluded that most subjects did not reach the WHO recommendations for the practice of PA. However, individuals who practice PA at least 3 times/week have better HRQoL, clinical score and fewer hospitalizations.摘要：规律体力活动（Physical Activity，PA）是多数囊性纤维化（Cystic Fibrosis，CF）患者门诊照护的常规组成部分。本研究旨在明确囊性纤维化儿童及青少年受试者自我报告的体力活动频率，并次要探究体力活动与临床指标、健康相关生存质量（Health-Related Quality of Life，HRQoL）之间的关联。方法：本研究为横断面研究，于门诊诊所招募确诊为囊性纤维化、年龄介于6至17岁的受试者。受试者填写关于体力活动行为的调查问卷、健康相关生存质量量表，并收集其临床指标数据。根据每周体力活动频次将受试者分为两组：每周体力活动≥3次组与每周体力活动≤2次组。结果：共计66名受试者完成本研究，其中72.7%（n=48）每周体力活动≥3次，27.2%（n=18）每周体力活动≤2次。仅12名儿童（18.2%）达到世界卫生组织（World Health Organization，WHO）推荐的每日中等至高强度体力活动标准。所有受试者的平均年龄为12.3±3.2岁，一秒用力呼气容积为90±24.1%，用力肺活量为95±20.4%。每周体力活动≥3次的组别临床评分更优（p=0.033），年度住院次数更少（p=0.002），去年住院总时长更短（p=0.020），且健康相关生存质量量表的躯体功能域（p=0.003）与情绪功能域（p=0.048）得分更高。结论：本研究表明，多数受试者未达到世界卫生组织推荐的体力活动标准。然而，每周至少进行3次体力活动的受试者，其健康相关生存质量、临床评分更优，且住院次数更少。