TY - JOUR T1 - Changes in physical activity and all-cause mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - 3488 AU - Anouk W. Vaes AU - Judith Garcia-Aymerich AU - Jacob L. Marott AU - Marta Benet AU - Miriam T.J. Groenen AU - Peter Schnohr AU - Frits M.E. Franssen AU - Jørgen Vestbo AU - Emiel F.M. Wouters AU - Peter Lange AU - Martijn A. Spruit Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/3488.abstract N2 - Background: To date, little is known about changes in physical activity in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their impact on all-cause mortality. Therefore, we aimed to study changes in physical activity in subjects with and without COPD and their impact on mortality risk.Methods: Subjects of the Copenhagen City Heart Study with at least two consecutive examinations were included. Each examination comprised a self-administered questionnaire and clinical examination.Findings: 1,270 subjects with COPD (58% men, 56±10 yrs, FEV1: 67±18% pred) and 8,734 subjects without COPD (42% men, 49±13 yrs, FEV1: 91±15% pred) were included. Baseline physical activity was lower in subjects with COPD (p<0.001). Moreover, the proportion of COPD subjects with a decline in physical activity was higher (p≤0.05). Subjects with COPD and moderate or high baseline physical activity who reported a low physical activity level at follow up had the highest hazards to die (HR 1.73 and 2.35, respectively; both p<0.001). In COPD subjects with a low baseline physical activity, no differences were found in survival between individuals with an unchanged or increased physical activity at follow up. In addition, in subjects without COPD, a low physical activity at follow up was associated with the highest hazard to die, irrespective of baseline physical activity level (p≤0.05).Conclusion: A decline in physical activity is more common in COPD subjects. Furthermore, a decline to a low physical activity is associated with an increased mortality risk in subjects both with and without COPD. Our findings emphasize the importance of focus on maintaining and stimulating of physical activity in COPD. ER -