Physical Activity During Adolescence and Lung Function Gain from 15 to 18 Years of Age

Abstract

A low prevalence of physical activity is found in all age groups worldwide. Although physical activity is associated with many health outcomes, the relationship with lung function remains poorly elucidated in the literature. PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between physical activity from 11 to 15 years of age with lung function gain from 15 to 18 years of age among adolescents belonging to a birth cohort in Brazil. METHODS: 5,249 live births in Pelotas (Brazil) participated in the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study. At ages 11, 15, and 18 years, all participants were sought for followed-up (follow-up rates: 87.5%, 85.7% and 81.3%, respectively). Physical activity (leisure-time and total) was self-reported at 11 and 15 years, while spirometric tests were performed at 15 and 18 years. Outcome variables were gains in forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity, and peak expiratory flow expressed as z-scores. Crude and adjusted linear regressions, stratified by sex, were performed. RESULTS: In adjusted analyses active boys at 11 and 15 years in leisure-time and total physical activity had higher gains in forced expiratory volume in one second (β=0.177; 95%CI:0.063;0.290, β=0.137; 95%CI:0.017;0.258), forced vital capacity (β=0.146; 95%CI:0.054;0.237, β=0.113; 95%CI:0.016;0.210), and peak expiratory flow (β=0.202; 95%CI:0066;0.338, β=0.149; 95%CI:0.005;0.293) than inactive ones. Vigorous-intensity physical activity in boys was also associated with gains in forced expiratory volume in one second (β=0.136; 95%CI:0.016;0.257) and forced vital capacity (β=0.112; 95%CI:0.015;0.209). Furthermore, the analyses of the association between active periods and lung function gain showed a significant trend for boys, with a dose-response effect. It was also observed that boys who were only active at 11 age years had greater lung function gains than the never-active boys. On the other hand, boys who were only active at age 15 years did not have higher gains in lung function than never-active boys. No significant associations were found for girls. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity in early adolescence is associated with lung function gain by the end of adolescence among boys.