Background: Increasing physical activity is recommended as a non-pharmacological approach for improving the symptoms, quality of life, and overall health in patients with asthma. However, the systemic effect of physical activity, especially sedentary behavior, in patients with asthma remains unclear.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of objectively measured physical activity, including sedentary time, with body composition data and clinical characteristics in patients with asthma.
Methods: The study included 85 patients with asthma and 38 healthy controls. Physical activity indices were assessed for 2 weeks using accelerometers. We investigated the relationship between physical activity levels and clinical characteristics, along with its association with body composition data assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography in patients with asthma.
Results: In patients with asthma, high blood eosinophil counts and poor asthma control, as assessed by the Asthma Control Questionnaire score, were associated with prolonged sedentary time and reduced step count. Moreover, reduced step count was independently associated with an elevated fat mass index, whereas a prolonged sedentary time and high oral corticosteroid doses were independently associated with a low lean mass index in patients with asthma. Prolonged sedentary time demonstrated a negative correlation with erector spinae muscle area after adjusting for background factors.
Conclusion: Sedentary behavior and physical inactivity are associated with body composition in patients with asthma, suggesting the need for interventions targeting these behaviors to improve health outcomes.
Keywords: asthma; dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; fat mass index; lean mass index; physical activity; sedentary time.
© 2025 Yamane et al.