Rahmaya Nova Handayani1, Faisal Yunus2, Iris Rengganis3, Ermita I Ilyas1, Fariz Nurwidya4
1Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
2Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Persahabatan Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
3Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
4Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Persahabatan Hospital; Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.
DOI: 10.4103/jnsbm.JNSBM_211_18
ABSTRACT
Background: Inflammatory respiratory tract involves the interaction of several mediators that will cause asthma symptoms. This study aimed to reveal the effect of asthma exercise on cortisol hormone and interleukin-5 (IL-5) in the Indonesian patients with persistent asthma. Methods: This is a pre and posttest-designed experimental study in the Prof. Dr. Margono Soekarjo Hospital at Purwokerto, Indonesia. The diagnosis of asthma was established according to the Global Initiative For Asthma 2017. IL-5 levels were determined from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and cortisol hormone analysis was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. All parameters were tested before and after performing asthma exercise 4 times/week in 8 weeks with a duration of 60 min. The Wilcoxon and Pearson tests were performed for the statistical analysis. Results: Asthma exercise significantly increased the cortisol hormone levels (P < 0.0001) and significantly reduced the IL-5 levels (P = 0.005). However, there was no significant correlation between cortisol hormone and IL-5 (r = −0.002, P = 0.989). Conclusions: Asthma exercise can increase the cortisol hormone levels and reduce pro-inflammatory IL-5. Asthma exercise should be provided as a nonpharmacologic treatment in patients with persistent asthma.
Keywords: Asthma exercise, cortisol hormone, interleukin-5.
