[Physical activity and its relationship with the state of health of stable COPD patients]

Previous studies have shown that physical activity (PA) in COPD is associated with a better quality of life and less morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to study the daily PA in the lives of stable COPD patients, outside the setting of a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Observational, descriptive and transversal multi-center study in patients with stable COPD controlled in an outpatient clinic by pneumologists. In order to determine the Physical Activity Index (PAI), the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (MLTPAQ) was used to differentiate the following groups according to the energy expenditure: inactive (less than 1,000 kilocalories per week), moderately active (between 1,000 and 3,000 kilocalories per week) and very active (more than 3,000 kilocalories per week). We analyzed the relationship between PAI and disease severity, health level and socioeconomic variables of the patients.

A total of 132 patients (121 men) were included in the study. Mean age was 66; mean FEV1 was 45%. Regarding PA, 32.6% had energy expenditures of less than 1,000 kilocalories/week, 38.6% between 1,000 and 3,000 and 28.8% more than 3,000. The most inactive COPD patients had more bronchial obstruction, more severe disease, more dyspnea and walked fewer meters in the 6MWT.

Stable COPD patients perform low levels of PA. Lower PA is associated with poorer health and with more severe disease.