Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction in COPD: The Impact of Coil Implantation on Patients' Physical Activity

Endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) is an emerging therapy option for the treatment of severe emphysema in COPD. To which extent patients profit from lung volume reduction via coils (LVRC) regarding morbidity, mortality, and quality of life is not clear yet. In this monocentric prospective cohort study, 13 COPD patients with severe emphysema (residual volume [RV] >225%) were enrolled at the University Hospital of Bonn. Activity measurements were assessed by a validated accelerometer wristband. By LVRC, RV could be reduced by 0.13 L to 5.54 ± 1.29 L. We could show a clinically relevant improvement in patients' physical activity after LVRC, measured as daily step count (497.7 ± 72.6 vs. 1,913.7 ± 182.7 steps/day, p = 0.03) and mean daily active energy expenditure (714.4 ± 73.6 vs. 2,321.3 ± 163.9 joules, p = 0.03). This improvement in physical activity is possibly associated with a positive effect on patients' morbidity and mortality.