Physical activity in COPD patients: patterns and bouts

• Published in: The European respiratory journal Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 993 - 1002
• Main Authors: DONAIRE-GONZALEZ, David, GIMENO-SANTOS, Elena, RODRIGUEZ-ROISIN, Robert, ANTO, Josep M, GARCIA-AYMERICH, Judith, BALCELLS, Eva, RODRIGUEZ, Diego A, FARRERO, Eva, DE BATLLE, Jordi, BENET, Marta, FERRER, Antoni, BARBERA, Joan A, GEA, Joaquim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leeds Maney 01.10.2013
• Subjects: Acceleration; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cohort Studies; Exercise; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Ambulatory - methods; Motor Activity; Phenotype; Pneumology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - therapy; Spirometry - methods; Vital Capacity; Physical exercise; Human; Lung disease; Chronic; Respiratory disease; Bronchus disease; Patient; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Obstructive pulmonary disease
• ISSN: 0903-1936; 1399-3003
• DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00101512

The present study aims to describe the pattern of physical activity and the frequency, duration and intensity of physical activity bouts in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to assess how these patterns differ according to COPD severity, and to explore whether these patients meet the general guidelines for physical activity for older adults. 177 patients (94% male, mean±sd age 71±8 years and forced expiratory volume in 1 s 52±16% predicted) wore the SenseWear Pro2 Armband accelerometer for eight consecutive days. Physical activity bouts were defined as periods of ≥10 min above 1.5 metabolic equivalent tasks and classified according to their median intensity. Patients engaged in activity a median of 153 min·day(-1) and 57% of that time was spent in bouts. Median frequencies of bouts per day were four and three for all and moderate-to-vigorous intensities, respectively. With increasing COPD severity, time in physical activity, proportion of time in bouts and frequency of bouts decreased. 61% of patients fulfilled the recommended physical activity guidelines. In conclusion, COPD patients of all spirometric severity stages engage in physical activity bouts of moderate-to-vigorous intensities. Patients with severe and very severe COPD perform their daily activities in fewer and shorter bouts than those in mild and moderate stages.