LAUSR

Background: Inactivity and sedentariness are distinct behaviours that are likely to be particularly extreme in severe asthma (SA), and associated with poor disease outcomes. Physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) in SA however have not been extensively examined. Aim: To measure PA and ST in patients with SA compared to healthy controls (HC), describing the associations of these behaviours with clinical outcomes. Method: Adults diagnosed with SA (n=61) and HC (n=42) underwent a multidimensional assessment involving measurement of lung function, exercise capacity, asthma control and health status. PA and ST were measured using a triaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT). Results: The SA group included 32 (53%) females, aged [median, IQR] 59 [43- 68] years. In the HC group 27 (64%) were females, aged 39 [31-64] years. Compared to HCs, people with SA accumulated fewer minutes/day in at least moderate intensity PA: 21.9 [12.9-36] versus 40.8 [29.2-51.2] (p Conclusion: People with SA perform less moderate and vigorous intensity PA than controls. Higher levels of PA and lower levels of ST are associated with better disease outcomes. Targeting inactivity maybe a beneficial non-pharmacological strategy in the management of severe asthma.