Physical activity and its correlates in people with cystic fibrosis: a systematic review

Manon Kinaupenne; Marieke De Craemer; Heidi Schaballie; Kristof Vandekerckhove; Stephanie Van Biervliet; Heleen Demeyer

doi:10.1183/16000617.0010-2022

Physical activity and its correlates in people with cystic fibrosis: a systematic review

Eur Respir Rev. 2022 Sep 7;31(165):220010. doi: 10.1183/16000617.0010-2022. Print 2022 Sep 30.

Authors

Manon Kinaupenne¹, Marieke De Craemer^{1

2}, Heidi Schaballie³, Kristof Vandekerckhove⁴, Stephanie Van Biervliet⁵, Heleen Demeyer^{6

2

7}

Affiliations

¹ Dept of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
² Research Foundation Flanders, Brussels, Belgium.
³ Dept of Pediatric Pulmonology, Infectious Diseases and Primary Immunodeficiencies, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
⁴ Dept of Pediatric Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
⁵ Dept of Pediatrics, Center for Cystic Fibrosis, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
⁶ Dept of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium h.demeyer@ugent.be.
⁷ Dept of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening genetic disease, affecting multiple life domains including physical activity (PA). Although higher PA levels are associated with multiple health benefits, little insight exists on the PA level of people with CF (PwCF) compared to healthy peers. Evidence on the influencing factors (i.e. correlates) of PA in this clinical population is scarce, but essential to fully understand their PA behaviour. Therefore, the present review aims to provide an overview of the PA level of PwCF compared to healthy peers, and the correlates of PA in PwCF. A systematic search of three databases resulted in 46 included studies. Analysis of 16 studies showed that the CF population is equally active compared to healthy peers, but there is a trend towards less high-intensity PA in youths with CF. Furthermore, PA is positively associated with quality of life, lung function, (maximal) exercise capacity, bone mineral density and quadriceps force. Also, PA was lower on weekdays compared to weekend days and lower when experiencing pulmonary exacerbations. More high-quality research is required in PwCF, particularly longitudinal studies that further explore the correlates of PA, with PA investigated as a primary outcome and measured objectively.

Publication types

Review