RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Symptom experience in patients with COPD and their level of physical activity. Is there a good association? JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 2837 VO 40 IS Suppl 56 A1 Heleen Demeyer A1 Juliana Maria de Sousa Pinto A1 Miek Hornikx A1 Laurence Vrancken A1 Marc Decramer A1 Wim Janssens A1 Thierry Troosters YR 2012 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/2837.abstract AB RationaleSeveral instruments including physical activity monitors and questionnaires are used to assess the functional status in patients with COPD. The relation between objectively measured physical activity (PA) and questionnaires assessing functional status and symptoms is poorly studied.Methods54 patients with COPD (age 66±7, FEV1 62±22% pred) were included. PA was assessed during 2 periods of 14 consecutive days in 6 weeks, by the dynaport movemonitor and actigraph. The amount of steps per day and movement intensity during walking (MI) were used for this analysis. Symptom experience was measured by the MRC scale for dyspnea (MRC), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), functionality subscale of the CCQ (CCQ-f) and the dyspnea subscale of the CRQ (CRQ-d), every 2 weeks. The correlations with PA were measured, both with and without inclusion of the weekends.ResultsThe univariate correlations are shown in table1. All questionnaires were significantly correlated with both the steps per day and the MI. Excluding weekends did not increase the correlation between 'functional status' and steps per day and slightly enhanced the correlations with MI.View this table:Table 1 Univariate correlations (p<0.05)ConclusionThe symptoms experienced by the patients and functional status are only modestly related to the amount and intensity of PA. Interventions that improve symptoms may therefore not automatically sin off in enhanced physical activity levels.