Abstract
The broad range of interventions to increase physical activity (PA) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been systematically assessed. We aimed to perform a systematic review of the interventional studies that have assessed PA as an outcome in patients with COPD.
A systematic search in five different databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Science) was performed in March 2015. Two independent reviewers analysed the studies against the inclusion criteria (COPD defined by spirometry; prospective, randomised/nonrandomised studies, cohort and experimental studies with interventions using PA as an outcome), extracted the data and assessed the quality of evidence.
60 studies were included. Seven intervention groups were identified. PA counselling increased PA levels in COPD, especially when combined with coaching. 13 studies showed positive effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on PA, while seven studies showed no changes. All three PR programmes >12 weeks in duration increased PA. Overall, the quality of evidence was graded as very low.
Interventions focusing specifically on increasing PA, and longer PR programmes, may have greater impacts on PA in COPD. Well-designed clinical trials with objective assessment of PA in COPD patients are needed.
Abstract
Long-lasting pulmonary rehabilitation and physical activity coaching programmes increase physical activity in COPD http://ow.ly/Zi8T2
Footnotes
Editorial comment in: Eur Respir J 2016; 48: 14–17.
This article has supplementary material available from erj.ersjournals.com
Support statement: L.C. Mantoani is funded by an EPSRC/Philips Healthcare grant and the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine of The University of Edinburgh.
Conflict of interest: Disclosures can be found alongside this article at erj.ersjournals.com
- Received October 21, 2015.
- Accepted March 4, 2016.
- Copyright ©ERS 2016