Comparison between 8 or 12 weeks of aerobic exercise traning in subjects with moderate to severe asthma

<bold>Background:</bold> Aerobic exercise traning (AET) induces improvement in the asthma clinical control, aerobic fitness, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, it is not clear the total duration in weeks of AET to induce improvements. <bold>Aim:</bold> To compare the effects of 8 vs. 12 weeks (wk) of AET clinical outcomes in subjects with moderate to severe asthma. <bold>Methods:</bold> 34 subjects with moderate to severe asthma, optimized treatment and clinically stable were randomized in the AET performed with cycle ergometer by 8 (AET8) or 12 wks (AET12) (n=17 in each group; moderate intensity 60-80% of HRmax; 2 times per wk; 40 minutes per session). <bold>Evaluations:</bold> Asthma clinical questionnaire (ACQ-6); Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in cycle ergometer, Asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ) for HRQOL, lung function were assessed before and after the AET. <bold>Results:</bold> After intervention, the lung function was not changed for both groups, only AET8 improved the asthma clinical control (−0.93±0.74, delta score), while AET12 was not increased (−0.38±1.05, delta score), both AET8 and AET12 increased the aerobic fitness (1.11±2.83 vs. 1.98±2.25, delta VO2peak ml.kg.min), workload (11.4±14.6 vs. 17.6±17.1, delta Watts), AQLQ (1.30±1.25 vs. 0.50±1.22, delta total score) compared with baseline (p<0.05). However, there is no difference between AET8 and AET12 (p>0.05). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> although only AET8 promoted improvement in the asthma clinical control, both training models improved the aerobic fitness, and HRQOL, therefore either model can be used in the rehabilitation of people with moderate to severe asthma.