Associations between Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity, and Respiratory Health in Children

Abstract

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity (PA) are associated with a plethora of positive health effects. Many UK children fail to meet the recommended level of PA, with an observed decline in CRF levels over recent decades. Second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) is responsible for a significant proportion of the worldwide burden of disease, but little is understood regarding the impact of SHS exposure on CRF and PA in children. The aim of this study was to test the associations between SHS exposure and CRF, PA, and respiratory health in children. Method: Children (9–11 years) from UK primary schools in deprived areas participated (n = 104, 38 smoking households). Surveys determined household smoking, and exhaled carbon monoxide was used to indicate children’s recent SHS exposure. CRF (VO2peak) was assessed via maximal treadmill protocol using breath-by-breath analysis. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide and spirometry were utilised as indicators of respiratory health. Results: Linear regression models demonstrated that SHS exposure was negatively associated with allometrically scaled VO2peak (B = −3.8, p = 0.030) but not PA or respiratory health. Conclusion: The results indicate that SHS is detrimental to children’s CRF; given that approximately one-third of children are regularly exposed to SHS, this important finding has implications for both public health and the sport and exercise sciences.