The Effects of Combined Respiratory Muscle and Exercise Training in Children with Bronchial Asthma: A Randomised Controlled Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Comparison of General Data Between the Two Groups

Projects		Rehabilitation Group (n=25)	Control Group (n=25)	p
Age, years Mean (SD)		9.08±2.25	9.45±2.56	0.597
Gender n(%)	Male	18 (72)	7 (28)	0.239
	Female	14 (56)	11 (44)
Disease duration, years Median (IQR)		4 (2.75~6.00)	4 (2.50~5.00)	0.667
Height, cm Mean (SD)		139.40±15.96	137.04±16.08	0.605
Weight, kg Median (IQR)		32 (24.00~41.00)	30 (23.00~37.00)	0.331
BMI Mean (SD)		17.09±2.54	16.00±1.91	0.091
Primary caregiver education level n (%)	Elementary school and below	0 (0)	2 (8)	0.424
	Junior school	3 (12)	3 (12)
	High school/technical Secondary school	8 (28)	9 (36)
	University/college	13 (56)	9 (36)
	Postgraduate	1 (36)	2 (8)
Impact of asthma on family economy n (%)	No impact	11 (44)	5 (20)	0.266
	Mild impact	10 (40)	18 (72)
	Moderate impact	4 (16)	1 (4)
	Severe impact	0 (0)	1 (4)

Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating children’s recruitment and retention.

Table 2 Comparisons of Outcome Measures Between the Two Groups Post-Treatment

Outcome Measures	Pre-Treatment		Post-Treatment		Post-Treatment P-value
	Rehabilitation Group	Control Group	Rehabilitation Group	Control Group
MIPmean Median (IQR)	39.1 (30.88~49.66)	39.56 (32.09~44.25)	53.11 (41.91~64.89)	45.81 (36.70~52.70)	0.031*
MIPmax Median (IQR)	52.3 (44.84~63.63)	49.39 (42.46~56.39)	61.27 (56.99~76.57)	50.92 (42.28~63.88)	0.003*
6MWD Mean (SD)	564.80±75.04	580.72±74.02	599.68±64.39	588.14±50.03	0.483
C-ACT Median (IQR)	25.0 (23.00~25.00)	25.00 (23.00~26.00)	25.00 (25.00~27.00)	25.00 (24.00~25.50)	0.038*

Note: *P<0.05.

Abbreviations: MIP, maximum inspiratory pressure; 6MWD, 6 minutes walking distance; C-ACT, Children-Asthma Control Test.

Table 3 Comparison of Spirometry Measurements Between the Two Groups Post-Treatment

Dependent Variables	Pre-Treatment		Post-Treatment		Post-Treatment P-value
	Rehabilitation Group	Control Group	Rehabilitation Group	Control Group
FVC% Mean (SD)	90.71±12.09	95.46±14.65	95.01±10.90	96.48±12.93	0.665
FEV1% Mean (SD)	84.56±9.83	91.48±9.32	87.88±15.54	88.69±19.48	0.520
FEV1/FVC% Mean (SD)	93.10±6.20	92.04±7.97	96.22±7.48	95.72±6.07	0.796
PEF% Mean (SD)	87.91±15.56	88.70±13.98	99.63±14.65	92.37±14.96	0.089
MEF75% Mean (SD)	78.20±13.67	76.81±17.68	91.71±19.41	84.35±15.17	0.142
MEF50% Mean (SD)	59.29±9.99	59.32±16.66	70.32±15.93	66.36±14.41	0.362
MEF25% Mean (SD)	47.93±10.71	48.32±13.60	59.98±17.39	57.31±12.66	0.539
MMEF75/25% Mean (SD)	56.44±10.18	57.11±15.83	69.85±17.26	66.24±13.28	0.412

Notes: FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; FEV1/FVC, one-second rate; PEF, peak expiratory flow; MEF75, maximum expiratory flow at 75% of vital capacity; MEF50, maximum expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity; MEF25, maximum expiratory flow at 25% of vital capacity; MMEF75/25, mid-forced expiratory flow rate.

Table 4 Comparison of the Quality-of-Life Between the Two Groups Post-Treatment

Dependent Variables	Pre-Treatment		Post-Treatment		Post-Treatment P-value
	Rehabilitation Group	Control Group	Rehabilitation Group	Control Group
3.0 Asthma module Mean (SD)	19.12±9.36	15.20±8.41	11.04±5.30	15.32±8.88	0.044*
Asthma Median (IQR)	7.00(6.00~8.50)	5.00(4.00~8.50)	4.00(4.00~6.00)	6.00(3.00~7.00)	0.437
Treatment Median (IQR)	5.00(5.00~8.00)	4.00(2.00~8.00)	2.00(1.5~4.00)	4.00(2.00~9.50)	0.027*
Worry Median (IQR)	1.00(0.00~4.00)	2.00(0.00~4.00)	0.00(0.00~2.00)	2.00(0.00~4.00)	0.040*
Communication Median (IQR)	3.00(0.00~5.50)	2.00(1.00~3.00)	2.00(0.00~4.00)	2.00(0.00~4.00)	0.691
4.0 Generic core scales Mean (SD)	16.72±8.60	17.92±8.76	12.08±6.98	17.20±8.56	0.025*
Physical functioning Median (IQR)	7.00(4.00~8.50)	7.00(4.50~8.00)	4.00(2.00~6.00)	6.00(4.00~8.00)	0.093
Emotional functioning Median (IQR)	3.00(1.00~5.50)	2.00(0.00~6.00)	2.00(0.00~4.00)	3.00(1.00~6.50)	0.186
Social functioning Median (IQR)	1.00(0.00~4.00)	2.00(0.00~5.00)	0.00(0.00~4.00)	0.00(0.00~4.50)	0.940
School functioning Median (IQR)	6.00(2.50~7.00)	5.00(3.50~6.50)	4.00(2.00~6.00)	6.00(3.00~7.50)	0.028*

Note: *p<0.05.