International Journal of COPD (Apr 2017)
Self-reported daily walking time in COPD: relationship with relevant clinical and functional characteristics
Abstract
Maria A Ramon,1–3 Cristina Esquinas,1 Miriam Barrecheguren,1 Eulogio Pleguezuelos,4,5 Jesús Molina,6 José A Quintano,7 Miguel Roman-Rodríguez,8 Karlos Naberan,9 Carl Llor,10 Carlos Roncero,11–14 Marc Miravitlles1,3 1Department of Pneumology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, 2Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 3Biomedical Research Networking Center Consortium of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), 4Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Mataró Hospital, 5TecnoCampus, College of Health Sciences, University of Pompeu Fabra, Mataró-Maresme, Barcelona, 6Francia Health Center, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, 7Lucena Health Center I, Lucena, Córdoba, 8Son Pisà Primary Health Care Center, Palma de Mallorca, 9Campo de Belchite Health Center, Zaragoza, 10Primary Care Centre Via Roma, 11Addiction and Dual Diagnosis Unit, Psychiatry Service, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, 12Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), Barcelona, 13Biomedical Research Networking Center Consortium of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 14Department of Psychiatry, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Background: Quantifying physical activity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is important as physical inactivity is related to poor health outcomes. This study analyzed the relationship between patients’ self-reported daily walking time and relevant characteristics related to COPD severity.Methods: Pooled analysis was performed on data from four observational studies on which daily walking time was gathered from a personal interview. Patients were classified as physically inactive if walking time was <30 min/day. Walking times were described and compared according to several markers of disease severity.Results: The mean daily walking time of 5,969 patients was 66 (standard deviation [SD] 47) min/day; 893 (15%) patients were inactive. A linear dose–response relationship was observed between walking time and the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score, admissions, COPD assessment test (CAT), body mass index, airway obstruction, dyspnea, exacerbation (BODEx) index, and Charlson index (P<0.001). Daily walking times were lower in patients classified as Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) B and D (P<0.001). Often, inactive patients had mMRC or Charlson index >3, post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second <30% predicted, at least one hospitalization for COPD, classified as GOLD B or D, BODEx >4, and CAT score >30.Conclusion: Lower self-reported walking times are related to worse markers of disease severity in COPD. Keywords: COPD, physical activity, symptoms