TY - JOUR T1 - The long-term effect of an exercise and diet intervention in asthma patients: a 1-year follow-up on a randomised controlled trial JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00032-2019 VL - 5 IS - 2 SP - 00032-2019 AU - Adrian Koch Bentzon AU - Linda Wolfgang Loehde AU - Vibeke Backer AU - Louise Toennesen Y1 - 2019/04/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/5/2/00032-2019.abstract N2 - Background In the EFFORT (Effects of Exercise and Diet in Nonobese Asthma Patients – A Randomized Controlled Trial) study, maximum exercise capacity (V′O2max) increased significantly within a 2-month high-intensity spinning period. Furthermore, the study concluded that only the combined exercise and diet intervention improved asthma control, significantly. This study examined whether original improvements in V′O2max and asthma control were present 1 year after intervention completion.Method In the original trial, 149 patients were randomised into four study groups. Participants were assessed with an incremental cycle ergometer test and the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ). Of the 149 patients, 66 accepted the follow-up invitation. Participants were distributed in their original groups: exercise group (n=18), diet group (n=117), combined diet and exercise group (n=115) and the control group (n=110). Patients were assessed with original procedures. Though, upon measuring V′O2max, the original four study groups were merged into one spinning group (n=127) and one nonspinning group (n=133).Results Comparing the spinning and nonspinning group, there was no significant between-group difference in V′O2max, at 1-year follow-up (p=0.3). In addition, there was no significant between-group difference in ACQ score (p=0.6). Hence, in the combined group, the initial improvement in the ACQ score had regressed to pre-intervention values within 1 year from study completion.Conclusion There were no measurable long-lasting effects on V′O2max 1 year after the intervention was completed. Furthermore, there was no long-lasting effect of the combined intervention on asthma control.This study provides evidence that improvements in maximal oxygen uptake prompted by a 2-month spinning programme regress to pre-intervention values. However, results suggest the presence of long-lasting improvements in self-reported asthma control. http://bit.ly/2wpMQDf ER -