The Associations Between Socioeconomic Deprivation, Social Isolation and Sedentary Time in COPD: A UK Biobank Study

People with COPD are more likely to be sedentary, a behaviour associated with reduced life expectancy. COPD is also associated with social isolation and socioeconomic deprivation. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between these determinants and sedentary time.

This study analysed 23,559 UK Biobank participants with COPD (recruited 2006-2010), with a follow-up accelerometer assessment (2013-2015). Primary analyses were performed on accelerometer participants (n = 1,558) with complete covariate and accelerometer data. Associations between sedentary time, social isolation, and deprivation were explored using multivariable linear regression, stratified by COPD severity (GOLD stages).

Sedentary time rose stepwise with disease severity (p < 0.001); with GOLD 4 individuals spending 19% more of their day sedentary than GOLD 1. Social isolation interacted with severity (p = 0.033), predicting an extra 1.5 h of daily sedentary time in GOLD 3-4 (95% CI, 0.49-2.47; p = 0.004). Deprivation had the greatest impact on sedentary time in mild disease.

This large observational study suggests sedentary behaviour is associated with social isolation in severe COPD and socioeconomic deprivation in mild disease severity. This highlights the need to consider individual social and environmental factors alongside a clinical focus to reduce sedentary behaviour.