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This study investigated the prevalence and association between exercise-induced asthma (EIA) and parental socio-economic status (PSES) among school-aged adolescents in a semiurban community in Nigeria. Three hundred and eighty-five adolescents (185 male and 200 female adolescents) whose ages ranged between 10 and 19 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited from four government approved secondary schools in Ido-Ekiti using a multistage sampling technique. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was assessed at baseline and after 6-min run test (6-MRT) on a level playing ground using a standard peak flow meter. PEFR measurements were repeated at 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th min post 6-MRT. Participants who had >15.0% PEFR fall were considered to have EIA. PSES was assessed using a validated socio-economic status questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Alpha level was set at P <0.05. The mean ages of males and females were 13.9±2.0 and 13.8±1.6 years, respectively. More than half of the participants, 58.2% had EIA (>15.0% PEFR scores) while 53.5% belonged to middle PSES class. There was no significant difference between PEFR scores of male and female participants at baseline and 5th min post 6-MRT. However, male participants had significant higher PEFR than the female counterparts at 10th ( t =2.090, P =0.037), 15th ( t =2.162, P =0.031), and 20th min ( t =2.978, P =0.003). There was significant association between EIA and PSES (χ 2 =152.4; P =0.001). The prevalence of EIA is very high among school-aged adolescents in Nigeria and was significantly associated with PSES., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

This study investigated the relationships among exercise capacity (EC), dynamic balance (DB), and gait characteristics (GCs) of patients with type-2 diabetes (T2D) and healthy controls (HCs). This observational controlled study involved 125 patients with T2D receiving treatment at a Nigerian university teaching hospital and 125 apparently healthy patients' relatives and hospital staff recruited as controls. EC maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) was estimated following a 6-min walk test. DB and GC were assessed using the Time Up to Go Test and an accelerometer (BTS G-Walk) assessing gait speed, step length, stride length, and cadence respectively during a self-selected walk. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at P <0.05. The mean ages of patients with T2D and HCs were 57.6±6.6 and 60.0±7.0 years, respectively. All physical characteristics were comparable ( P >0.05). There were significant differences in the VO2max and DB between patients with T2D and HCs; 7.6±0.6 mL/kg/min vs. 9.6±0.6 mL/kg/min ( t =-16.6, P =0.001) and 14.2±2.1 sec vs. 10.4±1.5 sec ( t =-6.37, P =0.001), respectively. Furthermore, significant differences were found in GC between patients with T2D and HCs; gait speed: 0.7±0.1 m/sec vs. 1.2±0.1 m/sec ( t =-16.60, P =0.001), step length: 0.6±0.2 m vs. 0.9±0.3 m ( t =-7.56, P =0.001) and stride length: 0.9±0.1 m vs. 1.1±0.5 m ( t =-6.09, P =0.001). There were significant correlations between EC and gait speed in both groups (T2D: r =-0.26, P =0.032 and HCs: r =0.51, P =0.003). In conclusion, patients with T2D demonstrated lower EC, unstable DB, and altered GCs compared with HCs. Exercise interventions to improve EC and gait balance are recommended.