Adult patients with severe asthma may have worse core endurance when compared with healthy controls, independent of sex, according to new research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Although asthma has been previously linked to skeletal muscle dysfunction, its impact on core function is unclear, according to the study. To investigate the differences in core function among patients with severe asthma and healthy control patients, Joice M. Oliveria, MSc, and colleagues devised an assessment that included 3 core function tests while simultaneously gathering data on breathing symptoms. Although there was no difference between the two groups in the partial sit-up, patients with severe asthma underperformed when compared with the control group while performing the Biering-Sorensen exercise (P<0.001) and the leftand right-side bridge test (P<0.001 for both). The researchers found similar results when they compared male and female patients separately. According to the study team, people with severe asthma should have their core muscles assessed and treated in case of dysfunction.
