Effects of aerobic exercise on asthma control in eosinophilic asthma patients: a randomized controlled trial

Background: It is now well accepted that asthma is a heterogeneous condition with different phenotypes. Eosinophilic asthma is one of these phenotypes that has a different pathological pathway than other forms of asthma. Aerobic exercise has been shown to be beneficial for asthma control and quality of life, but no study has evaluated its effect on eosinophilic asthmatic patients. Methods: 18 patients with eosinophilic asthma (physician-diagnosed, with sputum eosinophils > 1%) were randomized to 12 weeks of usual care compared (n=8) to usual care plus an aerobic exercise program performed 3 times a week (n=10). Each participant underwent baseline and post intervention assessments including the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). There were no significant differences in age, sex, corticosteroid use, rescue bronchodilator use and AQLQ score at the baseline between the groups. There was a slight difference in ACQ score in favor of the intervention group. Results: In adjusted analyses (age, sex, ICS dose, and baseline level of the measure), eosinophilic patients who exercised compared to non-exercising group had clinically and statistically significant improvements in AQLQ score (Mdiff=1.4, F=5.98, p=.04). Moreover, they had clinically important improvements in ACQ score (Mdiff=−0.61. F=3.99, p=.069) and rescue bronchodilator use (Mdiff=−5.3 puffs/d, F=1.56, p=.247). Conclusion: In conclusion, an aerobic exercise program tends to improve the quality of life and control of asthma in eosinophilic asthma patients. Studies with larger samples will be required to confirm our findings.