FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY IN PATIENTS WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Abstract

Asthma is characterized as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes airflow obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Among the symptoms, the main ones include cough, dyspnea, chest tightness, and wheezing, which can vary in frequency and intensity. It can be triggered by allergens, respiratory infections, genetic and/or environmental factors, and physical exercise. Inflammation leads to airflow limitation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus production, reducing the efficiency of gas exchange and resulting in decreased functional and respiratory capacity. The current evidence regarding the functional capacity of individuals with bronchial asthma should be examined. This is an integrative literature review with a search in the following databases: Virtual Health Library (BVS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), National Library of Medicine (PubMed), and Google Scholar, using the descriptors registered in the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS): Asthma, daily activities, and functional capacity correlated by the operator AND. Complete, free articles published between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, were included. After applying the selection criteria, 24 articles were included. The findings indicate that bronchial asthma has a significant impact on individuals' functional capacity, compromising the performance of daily activities and, consequently, quality of life.