Anaerobic fitness in children with asthma: Adaptation to maximal intermittent short exercise

Nineteen asthmatic boys (aged 13.4 years, 25–75 percentile: 11.5–15.1 years) performed short bouts of maximal exercise (force‐velocity test) to test their anaerobic fitness and tolerance of maximal anaerobic exercise. Fourteen healthy boys (aged 13.9 years, 25–75 percentile: 11.6–15.7 years) matched for anthropometric characteristics including lean body mass (LBM), pubertal stage, and weekly physical activity formed a control group. The maximal anaerobic power (W ana ) was measured during the force‐velocity test. The maximal oxygen uptake (V′   O   2 max ) was assessed during a standard graded exercise test. Pre‐ and post‐exercise pulmonary function was measured by body plethysmography. The asthmatic children exhibited lower W ana than the control group (8.2 watt·kg −1 LBM, 25–75 percentile: 7.55–10.6 vs. 11.3 watt·kg −1 LBM, 25–75 percentile: 9.46–14.1; P  = 0.01). V′   O   2 maxwas also diminished in the asthmatic group ( P  = 0.01). Multiple stepwise regression models revealed that Tanner's score ( P  < 0.001) and the diagnosis of asthma ( P  < 0.01) were the best predictors of W ana . In conclusion, a diminished anaerobic fitness could contribute to the overall exercise limitation in asthmatic children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; 31:198–204. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.