Abstract
Rationale COPD patients show a variable decline in lung function and functional outcomes over time. We aimed to assess the effect of physical activity (PA) on this decline (i.e. lung function, exercise capacity and quality of life).
Methods 114 COPD patients from the PAC-COPD study were included and followed up for 2.6±0.6 year. In this prospective cohort study PA was measured by accelerometry at baseline. Exercise capacity (6MWD), lung function (FEV1) and quality of life (SGRQ) were assessed at baseline and follow up. Patients were divided in tertiles based on their baseline PA (step count). The functional decline (expressed as yearly decline) was compared between these groups using general linear models adjusted for the baseline levels of each outcome variable.
Results Patients were 70±8y, had a BMI of 29±5 kg/m2, FEV1 of 54±16%pred, 6MWD of 415±95m, SGRQtotal of 29±17 points and did 7362±4589 steps/d at baseline. 94% were male and 34% were current smokers. Patients decreased in terms of FEV1(ml), 6MWD and SGRQ (p<0.01 for all). The decline in FEV1 was significantly lower in the more active patients (Table1).
Low PA | Medium PA | High PA | p-trend | |
Mean steps (steps/d) | 2795(394) | 6990(394) | 12301(394) | |
Δ6MWD (m/y) | -14(4.8) | -5.6(4.0) | -5.7(4.0) | 0.25 |
ΔFEV1 (ml/y) | -77.3(18)* | -40.6(17)* | 20.1(17) | <0.001 |
ΔSGRQ (points/y) | 2.39(0.81) | 1.39(0.78) | 0.75(0.80) | 0.17 |
Data expressed as mean (SE); *significantly different from high PA group; yearly decline calculated as total decline/time of follow up
ConclusionBeing physically active positively affected the lung function decline, even after adjusting for baseline levels. Other outcomes were also improved, however this was not statistically significant.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016