Physical inactivity in treated asthmatic patients: A validated study using the Sensewear Armband.

P4624 Physical inactivity in treated asthmatic patients: A validated study using the Sensewear Armband A. Bruno, C. G. Uasuf, G. Insalaco, M. Gjomarkaj, E. Pace (Palermo, Italy) Background: Physical activity (PA) has been reported to be reduced in asthmatics. SenseWear system armband (SWA) (BodyMedia) is a system that continuously gather data as movement, heat flux, skin temperature, estimating the wearer's caloric expenditure, duration and intensity of physical activity and number of steps taken. Studies with a validated tool as SWA in adult asthmatics are missing. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the total energy expenditure (EE), the steps number, the duration and intensity of PA in daily life of asthmatics. Methods: Patients with intermittent asthma (n=6), with moderate treated asthma (n=6) and healthy subjects (n=17) were instructed to wear the SWA continuously (day and night) for three days. Pulmonary function and the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) were also assessed. All data were normalized for the Body Mass Index. Results: The EE, the steps number, the duration and intensity of PA were significantly lower in moderate treated asthmatics than in healthy controls (p=0.003, p=0.001, p=0.0006, p=0.001) and in intermittent asthmatics (p=0.004, p=0.004, p=0.01, p=0.01). Furthermore the ACQ score was significantly higher in moderate treated asthmatics than in healthy controls (p=0.006). There was no significantly difference between the intermittent asthmatics and healthy controls for the studied parameters. Also, there was no significantly difference in time of wearing SWA among the three categories studied. Conclusion: The total energy expenditure and the intensity and duration of physical activity are reduced in moderate treated asthmatics. The SWA should be considered a useful tool for monitoring the progression of asthma disease.