Prolonged bouts of sedentary behavior in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and associated factors

Increased sedentary behavior (SB), especially in prolonged bouts, is associated with adverse health outcomes, but little is known about patterns of SB in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The purpose of this study was to describe SB and patterns of SB and to examine factors associated with prolonged bouts of SB in inactive community-dwelling adults with COPD.

This cross-sectional analysis used data from inactive adults with COPD who were enrolled in an exercise program but had not started exercising. Participants were ≥ 50 years old with a diagnosis of COPD, had a forced expiratory volume in one second < 80% predicted, and were inactive. Participants wore an activPAL device for seven days to measure their SB and completed surveys and physical measures. Data were analyzed with multiple regression.

The sample included 160 participants with a mean age (± SD) of 69 ± 8, and a mean total sedentary time of 742 ± 150 min/day, with 254 ± 146 min/day in SB bouts ≥ 60 min.

Time spent in bouts of SB ≥ 60-min. was negatively associated with self-efficacy for overcoming barriers to light physical activity (P<0.05), balance (P<0.05), chair stand test (P<0.05), FEV₁% predicted (P<0.05) and positively associated with BMI (P<0.001).

Inactive people with COPD engage in extensive SB, much of it in prolonged bouts. Self-efficacy, balance, and lower body strength are modifiable variables associated with SB and potential targets for future interventions to reduce time in prolonged sedentary behavior.