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Objectives Despite the benefits of a physically active lifestyle, some studies suggest fear of exacerbations by both children and their parents limit physical activity in children with asthma. We
undertook a systematic review to quantify the difference in objectively measured physical activity levels of children and adolescents with and without asthma. Data Sources: MEDLINE, PubMed
and EMBASE. Study Selection: English language observational studies of children and adolescents
to the age of 18 that compared objectively measured physical activity (accelerometer or pedometer devices) between those with asthma and without asthma. Results: Overall 22,285 articles were
retrieved with 12 studies being included in the review: 1 cohort, 1 case-control and 10 crosssectional. A meta-analysis of accelerometry data from the single cohort study and 8 cross-sectional
studies produced an overall mean difference of 0.01 (95% Cl: -0.09-0.11) activity counts per minute
in children and adolescents without asthma compared to those with asthma. Conclusion: We did
not find any evidence that children and adolescents with and without asthma engaged in different amounts of physical activity when measured objectively by accelerometers. Children and adolescents with asthma may not require differentially targeted policies to encourage more physical
activity, however further longitudinal studies are needed.
