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Factors Associated with a Low Level of Physical Activity in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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Abstract

Background

Physical activity such as walking is strongly recommended for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

We undertook a multicenter observational study on COPD patients, collecting the daily walking time, COPD severity score (COPDSS), functional status [London Chest Activity of Daily Living (LCADL) questionnaire], health-related quality of life (QoL) rating [five-item EuroQL (EQ-5D) and Airways Questionnaire 20 (AQ20)], and anxiety and depression rating (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Multivariate logistic regression modeling was performed to identify the independent predictors of a low walking time (<30 min/day).

Results

We included 4,574 patients with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 67.1 ± 10.0 years, with a mean FEV1 (%) of 54.0 ± 23.7. The mean daily walking time was 73.6 ± 67.1 min (58.9 % at ≥60 min and 13.7 % at <30 min). A strong direct relationship was observed between daily walking time and better QoL (EQ-5D and AQ20) and functional status (LCADL; p < 0.001 in all cases). The independent predictors of a low walking time were a worse score in EQ-5D [odds ratio (OR) (95 % confidence interval per one-point increase of 0.23 (0.15–0.35)], a higher COPDSS [OR per one-point increase of 1.04 (1.02–1.07)], and the presence of depression [OR 1.58 (1.25–2.01)].

Conclusions

After adjustment for age and severity of symptoms, poor health status, severity of COPD, and depression are the main factors associated with a low walking time in COPD patients.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by Laboratorios Esteve S.A. (Barcelona, Spain). We thank Angel Azpeitia (Laboratorios Esteve S.A., Barcelona Spain) for his support in the design of the study.

Conflict of interest

Marc Miravitlles has received speaker fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Bayer Schering, Novartis, Talecris, Takeda-Nycomed, Merck, and Sharp and Dohme; honoraria for the design and development of the current study from Laboratorios Esteve S.A. (Barcelona, Spain); and consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Bayer Schering, Novartis, Almirall, Merck, Sharp and Dohme, and Takeda-Nycomed. The rest of the authors have no conflicts of interest related to this article.

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Miravitlles, M., Cantoni, J. & Naberan, K. Factors Associated with a Low Level of Physical Activity in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Lung 192, 259–265 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-014-9557-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-014-9557-x

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