Physical-activity trajectories during childhood and lung function at 15 years: findings from the ALSPAC cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although physical activity has many known health benefits, its association with lung function in childhood/adolescence remains unclear. We examined the association of physical-activity trajectories between 11 and 15?years with lung function at 15?years in 2266 adolescents.

Methods

A population-based cohort of 14?305 singleton births alive at 1?year was recruited in the UK population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children cohort. Physical activity (counts/minute and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity) was assessed for 7?days using an accelerometer at 11, 13 and 15?years. We identified sex-specific physical-activity trajectories applying K-means for longitudinal data in children with at least two accelerometer measurements (n?=?3584). We then estimated the sex-specific associations of these trajectories with post-bronchodilation lung-function parameters using multivariable linear-regression models (n?=?2266, 45% boys).

Results

Fewer than 7% of participants met the WHO physical-activity recommendations (i.e. daily average of at least 60?minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity). Boys were substantially more active than girls. In both sexes, we identified three distinct physical-activity trajectories ('low': 39.8% boys, 45.8% girls; 'moderate': 42.9% boys, 41.4% girls; and 'high' physical activity: 17.3% boys, 12.8% girls). Girls in the moderate and high physical-activity trajectories had 0.11?L [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04-0.19] and 0.15 L (95% CI: 0.03-0.26) higher forced vital capacity than their less-active peers. No association was observed in boys.

Conclusions

Higher childhood physical activity relates to higher lung-function levels in adolescent girls. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying this association should be pursued.

SUBMITTER: Roda C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7124497 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature