Table 3 The effects of the 6-month exercise intervention on asthma control.

From: Regular exercise improves asthma control in adults: A randomized controlled trial

Outcome measure,

past 4 weeks

Intervention group (N=44)

Reference group (N=45)

Effect of intervention:

RD

(95% CI)

Hypothesis testing:

P for RD=0

Tot

N

Better

n

Risk b

No change

n

Worse

n

Risk w

Total

N

Better

n Risk b

No change

n

Worse

n

Risk w

Asthma Control Test

42

26

7

9

44

17

17

10

0.233

0.032

 

0.619

 

0.214

 

0.386

 

0.227

(0.027–0.438)

 

Getting things done at work school or botha

43

9

26

8

45

5

36

4

0.096

0.227

 

0.209

 

0.186

 

0.133

 

0.089

(−0.058–0.249)

 

Having shortness of breathb

42

11

26

5

45

13

24

8

−0.027

0.779

 

0.262

 

0.119

 

0.289

 

0.178

(−0.215–0.161)

 

Wake up at night due to asthma symptomsc

43

8

32

3

45

7

36

2

0.031

0.705

 

0.186

 

0.070

 

0.156

 

0.044

(−0.127–0.188)

 

Reduced use of rescue inhaler or nebulizerd

43

16

20

7

44

6

32

6

0.239

0.010

 

0.372

 

0.163

 

0.136

 

0.136

(0.063–0.414)

 

Self-rating of asthma controle

43

16

22

5

45

12

25

8

0.105

0.291

  

0.372

 

0.116

 

0.267

 

0.178

(−0.088–0.299)

 
  1. Risk Differences (RD) estimated for the probability of improvement. The Regular Exercise and Asthma Control Trial [REACT].
  2. aIn the past 4 weeks, how much of the time did your asthma keep you from getting as much done at work, school or at home? All of the time (1 point); Most of the time (2); Some of the time (3); A little of the time (4); None of the time (5 points).
  3. bDuring the past 4 weeks, how often have you had shortness of breath? More than once a day (1); Once a day (2); 3 to 6 times a week (3); Once or twice a week (4); Not at all (5).
  4. cDuring the past 4 weeks, how often did your asthma symptoms (wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain) wake you up at night or earlier than usual in the morning? 4 or more nights a week (1); 2 to 3 nights a week (2); Once a week (3); Once or twice (4); Not at all (5).
  5. dDuring the past 4 weeks, how often have you used your rescue inhaler or nebulizer medication (such as salbutamol)? 3 or more times per day (1); 1 or 2 times per day (2); 2 or 3 times per week (3); Once a week or less (4); Not at all (5).
  6. eHow would you rate your asthma control during the past 4 weeks? Not controlled at all (1); Poorly controlled (2); Somewhat controlled (3); Well controlled (4); Completely controlled (5).
  7. A total of 89 participants were included in some analysis. Individual analyses included from 86 to 88 participants.