Thoracic mobility in school-aged asthmatic children.

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition frequently observed in childhood, which can have detrimental effects on breathing and thoracic mobility.

Objective: To describe the thoracic mobility of 6- to 11-year-old children diagnosed with asthma and compare it with that of non-asthmatic children in schools in Cali, Colombia.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional analytical study used a non-probabilistic convenience sampling technique to assess thoracic mobility. Data were analyzed using STATA 14® statistical software. Measurement of thoracic mobility was performed using cirtometry at the axillary (CAx) and xiphoid (CX) levels according to the protocol established by Bockenhauer et al. Asthma prevalence, history, symptoms, and associated risk factors were assessed using the self-administered International Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. In addition, anthropometric measurements were collected to account for potential confounding variables.

Results: Of the 282 children enrolled, 193 met the inclusion criteria, and 11.9% were diagnosed with asthma. The asthmatic group exhibited several identified risk factors, including exposure to dust (47.8%), environmental fumes (30.4%), tobacco smoke (13%), and colds (47.8%). There were no statistically significant differences in anthropometric variables between the two groups. However, the asthmatic group showed significantly reduced thoracic mobility compared to the non-asthmatic group, especially in the CAx measurement (5.82 cm ± 2 for the non-asthmatic group vs. 5.18 cm ± 1.2 for the asthmatic group; p = 0.047).

Conclusions: Individuals diagnosed with asthma have reduced thoracic mobility compared to those without the condition.