Study | Patient demographics | Intervention | Significant outcomes |
Farid [42] | 18 versus 18 controls Mean age 29 years Exercise-induced asthma Atopic | 3×weekly 20 min aerobic exercise for 8 weeks | Improved FEV1, FVC, PEF, FEF25–75% and MVV |
Mendes [43] | 44 versus 45 controls Median age 39 years Median BMI 25.2 Moderate or severe persistent asthma | 2×30-min training session on indoor treadmill for 3 months 60–80% V′O2max | Improved V′O2max Improved asthma-related QoL Reduced Beck Depression Inventory Reduced State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scores |
Mendes [44] | 34 versus 34 controls Median age 34 years Median BMI 25.8 Moderate or severe persistent asthma | 2×30-min training session on indoor treadmill for 3/12 60–80% V′O2max | Reduced FeNO Reduced sputum total and eosinophil counts Increased number of symptom free days Improved V′O2max |
Turner [45] | 19 versus 15 controls Mean age 71 years Mean BMI 26.8 Moderate-to-severe asthma with fixed airflow obstruction | 1×weekly 20 min walking at 80% of average walking speed on 6MWT circuit training based on Borg RPE scale | Improved AQLQ activity and symptom domains |
Scott [46] | 10 exercise versus 15 dietary intervention versus 13 diet and exercise Mean BMI 33.7 | Personal training 60 min per week and visit gym 3×week for 12 weeks | Improved symptoms with diet and combined Improved QoL with all three interventions Reduced sputum eosinophils with exercise Reduced BMI |
Franca-Pinto [12] | 22 versus 21 controls Mean age 40 years Mean BMI 26.5 91% atopy Mean maintenance ICS 909 Moderate-severe asthma | 2×weekly 35 min (25-min training, 5-min warm up/cool down) “vigorous” aerobic training programme on an indoor treadmill for 3 months | Improved bronchial hyperreactivity by 1 doubling dose Reduced serum IL-6 and MCP-1 |
Freitas [47] | 28 versus 27 controls Mean age 45.9 years Mean BMI 38.1 Obese participants | 2×weekly constant WR aerobic training 50–75% V′O2peak and resistance training 60% 1 RM | Greater proportion of patients with improved depression symptoms Lower risk of developing OSA Improved sleep quality |
Turk [48] | 44 versus 30 controls Obese mean BMI 44.75 | Thrice weekly sessions of 40–60 min high-intensity interval training for 12 weeks | Improved asthma control at surgery Improved asthma-related QoL |
Candemir [9] | 35 patients Mean age 45 years | 30-min sessions thrice weekly for 8 weeks at 85% V′O2peak plus quadriceps resistance training | Improved ACT Reduced BMI in obese participants Reduced emergency admissions and hospitalisations |
Toennesen [49] | 29 exercise; 29 diet and exercise, 33 diet, 34 control Mean age 38.2–43.7 years Mean BMI 24.9–26.1 72–85% atopy 59–76% ICS | 2–5 repeats of 5-min interval training consisting of: 1) 30 s at 30 V′O2max; 2) 20 s at 60% V′O2max; 3) 10 s at 90% V′O2max | Improved ACQ |
Freitas [11] | 28 versus 27 controls Mean age 45.9 years Mean BMI 38.1 Obese participants | 2×weekly constant WR aerobic training 50–75% V′O2peak and resistance training 60% 1 RM | Reduced FeNO Improved FEV1/FVC Improved ACQ score Decreased serum CCL2, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, leptin Increased vitamin D, adiponectin, IL-10 |
Prossegger [50] | 18 exercise, 24 control Mean age 40.6 years HDM sensitisation | Four 3–5-h guided GPS-monitored hiking/snow-shoe tours with an average altitude difference of 411 m and 11 km in distance per day Four all-day skiing sessions with an average of 42 km in ski slopes in three different ski regions (2000–2500 m) | Improved FeNO Reduced nasal eosinophil count Improvement in allergic symptoms |
Saxer [51] | 24 versus 24 controls Low altitude: mean age 47 years, BMI 24 High altitude: mean age 43 years, BMI 26 | 5×weekly 30–45-min guided walks, endurance training, strength training and education for maximum 5 h per day for 3 weeks at either 760 m above sea level or 3100 m above sea level | ACQ in both groups PEF variability in both groups |
Jaakkola [52] | 44 versus 45 controls Mean age 39.7 years Mean BMI 24.97 | 3×weekly 30-min aerobic exercise at 70–80% maximal HR for 24 weeks | Improved ACT score |
FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC: forced vital capacity; PEF: peak expiratory flow; FEF25–75%: forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of FVC; MVV: maximum voluntary ventilation; BMI: body mass index; V′O2max: maximal oxygen uptake; QoL: quality of life; FeNO: exhaled nitric oxide fraction; 6MWT: 6-min walk test; RPE: rate perceived exertion; AQLQ: Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid; IL: interleukin; MCP-1: monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; WR: work rate; V′O2peak: peak oxygen uptake; RM: repetition maximum; OSA: obstructive sleep apnoea; ACT: Asthma Control Test; ACQ: Asthma Control Questionnaire; TNF: tumour necrosis factor; HDM: house dust mite; HR: heart rate.