Leisure-time vigorous physical activity is associated with better lung function: the prospective ECRHS study

Area of Science:

• Respiratory Medicine
• Public Health
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Lung function, measured by FEV1 and FVC, is crucial for respiratory health.
• Physical activity's role in maintaining lung function, especially in smokers, requires further investigation.
• The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) cohort provides a valuable dataset for longitudinal studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between physical activity and lung function (FEV1 and FVC) in a large, population-based cohort.
• To investigate if physical activity influences the decline of lung function over time.
• To explore these associations specifically within the subgroup of current smokers.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study using data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS).
• FEV1 and FVC measurements were taken from 3912 participants across two examinations (11.1 years apart).
• Physical activity was assessed via questionnaires, defining active individuals as those exercising ≥2 times/week for ≥1 hour, analyzed using adjusted mixed linear regression models.

Main Results:

• Active individuals at baseline showed higher FEV1 and FVC at both examinations compared to inactive individuals, particularly evident in current smokers.
• Participants who became active or remained consistently active demonstrated significantly higher FEV1 and FVC than those consistently inactive.
• No significant association was found between physical activity and the rate of lung function decline over the 11.1-year follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• Leisure-time vigorous physical activity is associated with improved FEV1 and FVC over a decade in current smokers.
• The findings suggest that physical activity may play a protective role in maintaining lung function among smokers.
• Physical activity was not found to influence the decline in lung function within this cohort.