Abstract
Hospitalizations and exacerbations are related to a decline in lung function, quality of life and increase in mortality in patients with COPD. In addition, hospitalization also reduces acutely the daily life physical activity (DLPA) in COPD patients, however, the later effects remains unclear.
Aim: To assess if hospitalization has a long term effect on DLPA in patients with COPD.
Methods: This study included 93 patients with moderate and severe COPD during regular medical visit in a University hospital and under optimized medication. It was assessed: hospitalization in the last year as well as time of physical inactivity (in percentual of inactivity time) and step counts per day using an accelerometer (ActiGraph, GT3X) assessed during 6 days. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those that hospitalized during the last year but not in the last 60 days (PH group) and those who did not (NPH group). Mann Whitney test was used to compare both groups.
Results: There was no difference in the age (71±7 vs. 67±9 years) and lung function (FEV1 40±14 vs. 42±14 in % pred., respectively) between PH and NPH groups. However, the PH group presented longer time in physical inactivity and lower number of steps per day compared with the NPH group (respectively, 83 vs. 78%; p=0.04 and 2,423 vs. 3,639 steps per day; p<0.01).
Conclusion: COPD patients who hospitalized in the last year remains physically inactive for a longer period. Therefore, physical activity should be encouraged in these patients after hospitalization.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
