Prevalence and prognostic importance of exercise limitation and physical inactivity in COPD

Abstract

Exercise limitation and physical inactivity are separate, but related constructs. Both are commonly present in individuals with COPD, contribute to disease burden over and above the respiratory impairments, and are independently predictive of adverse outcomes. Because of this, clinicians should consider assessing these variables in their patients with COPD. Field tests of exercise performance such as the 6-min walk test and the incremental and endurance shuttle walk tests require limited additional resources, and results correlate with negative outcomes. Laboratory measures of exercise performance using a treadmill or cycle ergometer assess exercise capacity, provide prognostic information and have the advantage of explaining physiological mechanisms (and their interactions) underpinning exercise limitation. Limitations in exercise capacity (i.e. “cannot do”) and physical inactivity (i.e. “do not do”) are both associated with mortality; exercise limitation appears to be the more important driver of this outcome.