Everyday factors influence activity levels in children with cystic fibrosis
Age, fitness, screen time, and support linked to physical activity
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The amount of physical activity children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) get is linked to their age, physical abilities, screen time, and several other everyday factors, according to a recent study.
Other factors tied to physical activity included taking part in organized sports, having social support from others, and even the time of year.
“Our findings underscore the multifaceted nature of PA [physical activity] behaviour in [young people with CF] and highlight the need for future … interventions to recognise these multiple levels of influence,” the researchers wrote.
The findings come from the study, “Influencing factors of physical activity in youths with cystic fibrosis: a socioecological approach,” published in ERJ Open Research.
Why physical activity matters in cystic fibrosis
CF is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, which lead to a missing or faulty CFTR protein. This causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in several organs, including the lungs.
Physical activity has been linked to slower lung function decline and fewer hospitalizations in people with CF. Even so, children and adolescents with CF tend to be less physically active than their peers without the disease, especially those with more advanced lung involvement.
Because relatively little is known about what influences physical activity in young people with CF, researchers in Belgium conducted a study involving 49 children and adolescents with the disease. Most participants were girls (57%), and the average age was 11.4 years.
On average, participants spent about 99 minutes per day being physically active, including nearly 36 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity. Boys generally spent more time being active than girls.
Children living in single-parent families tended to have lower total physical activity levels than those from traditional families. Lower levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity tended to be seen in children with higher body mass index for their age and sex, as well as in those with a larger waistline.
Better functional performance, measured by the 30-second sit-to-stand test (STS), was associated with higher levels of both total and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The STS measures how many times a person can stand up from a chair and sit back down in 30 seconds without using their arms.
How daily experiences and attitudes affect activity
Regarding health-related quality of life, children and adolescents who reported a higher treatment burden, eating disturbances, or digestive problems tended to be less physically active, as did those who perceived more barriers to exercise. In contrast, a more positive attitude toward physical activity was linked to higher levels of both total and moderate-to-vigorous activity.
At the behavioral and social level, participants who spent more time on screens each day were less physically active, while those with greater social support and those who took part in organized sports tended to be more active.
“Our data suggest that reducing screen time among [young people with CF] could potentially lead to increased engagement in PA,” the investigators wrote. “Yet, no effective and feasible PA intervention exists that mainly focuses on behaviour change in this population.”
Overall, physical activity levels were higher in autumn than during other times of the year.
Key factors most closely linked to activity levels
Statistical models showed that age, waist circumference, and functional performance were the factors most strongly linked to overall physical activity levels.
“This underscores the importance of starting as early as possible with PA interventions during childhood, especially because childhood PA behaviour is a marker for PA habits in adulthood,” the researchers wrote.
Similar factors were linked to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, with boys tending to be more active than girls.
“These findings highlight the need for multilevel approaches when promoting PA engagement,” and identify “a range of potentially modifiable factors … that should be considered in interventions aiming to encourage [youth with CF] to be more active,” the researchers concluded.
