Background: Patients with asthma benefit from behavioral interventions (BI) to increase physical activity in daily life (PADL); however, the characteristics of responders remain unknown.

Aim: Identify the characteristics of adults with asthma responders to a BI to increase PADL and report the benefits.

Methods: Adults with moderate to severe asthma clinically stable received an educational program and an eight-week (1x/week) face-to-face BI to increase PADL. Subjects were classified based on the increase in steps/day after intervention as good responder (?2,500), somewhat responders (600-2499), and non-responders (?599).

Results: Twenty-four patients were included (4[17%] men). Change in the number of steps in good responders (n=9), somewhat responder (n=8) and non-responders (n=7) was 4,233[1,968], 1,254[366]; and -338 [562]; mean[SD]). No between-group difference was observed in the patients baseline characteristics (age, lung function, body mass index (BMI), and clinical asthma control (ACQ). However, good and somewhat responders presented  lower baseline steps/day (4,008[1,035], 4,218[1,440], 5,714[,1602]; p=0.04) than non-responders, respectively. After the intervention, all groups presented a minimal clinically important difference in the ACQ and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (?0.5 points); however, only responder groups reached the controlled asthma levels (ACQ<1.50).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the baseline number of steps characterizes responders to a behavioral intervention (BI) to promote PADL. The intervention improves clinical control and quality of life; however, only responders kept asthma controlled.