Abstract
Background:
Patients with COPD suffer from impaired pulmonary function and dyspnea which result to limited level of physical activity, and impaired quality of life. Exercise and regular physical activity have been proven to break the vicious circle. The aim of this study is (1) to investigate the effects of a walking program on exercise capacity and quality of life; (2) the relationship of daily steps and quality of life in patients with COPD.
Methods:
Patients with COPD were randomly assigned to pedometer group (PG) or control group (CON). Subjects in PG walked to target daily steps with pedometer for 8 weeks. During the program, the target of daily steps increased progressively (10% per week) in PG. Before and after the program, the following measurements were performed: 6-min walk test (6MWT), pulmonary function test (PFT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), quality of life questionnaire (SF-12) and daily steps. Wilcoxon Rank Signed test were used for comparison within groups. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained from Taoyuan General Hospital No. TYGH106081.
Results:
Fourteen patients with COPD were randomly assigned to pedometer group (n=8) or control group (n=6). After 8 weeks training, subjects in PG showed significant improvement in pulmonary function. The FVC significant increased (from 2.7 [1.9-3.2] to 3.3 [2.0-3.6], P<0.05); FVC% significant increased (from 88.2 [72.0-98.8] to 101.8 [75.1-115.9], P<0.05). The daily steps also showed significant improvement (from 5,674.3 [3,115.6-7,912.2] to 8,101.5 [3,034.5-1,1249.7], P<0.05) in PG. No significant change was found in SF-12, 6MWT, and symptoms (CAT) in PG after training. In CG, subjects showed no improvement in the measurements of pulmonary function, quality of life, 6MWT and daily steps. In addition, the CAT score significantly increased (from 14.0 [9.5-17.8] to 21.0 [15.8-28.3], P<0.05) in CG.
Conclusions:
For patients with COPD, a daily walking program with target may be beneficial in the improvement of pulmonary function and daily steps.
Disclosures:
None.
Definition of abbreviations: 6MWT=Six-Minute Walk Test; CAT=COPD Assessment Test;PCS=Physical Component Summary; MCS=Mental Component Summary. Data are median(first quartile-third quartile); * statistically significant at p<.05 View all access options for this article.Comparisons of outcome measurements within groups.
Pedometer group
Control group
Pre-test
Post-test
p
Pre-test
Post-test
p
Pulmonary function test
FEV1 (L)
1.2(1.0-1.4)
1.3(1.1-1.4)
.050
1.1(0.6-1.2)
0.9(0.6-1.2)
.068
FEV1 %predicted
52.7(38.0-64.1)
61.1(46.0-67.5)
.050
51.4(32.3-60.1)
49.4(29.1-53.1)
.068
FVC (L)
2.7(1.9-3.2)
3.3(2.0-3.6)
.012*
2.1(1.2-3.1)
1.8(1.1-3.0)
.068
FVC %predicted
88.2(72.0-98.8)
101.8(75.1-115.9)
.012*
96.3(44.8-103.5)
74.5(44.2-98.8)
.068
FEV1/FVC
0.4(0.4-0.7)
0.4(0.3-0.7)
.553
0.5(0.3-0.8)
0.6(0.3-0.9)
1.000
CAT
14.5(8.3-17.5)
8.5(5.8-16.8)
.104
14.0(9.5-17.8)
21.0(15.8-28.3)
.046*
Daily steps (steps/day)
5674.3(3115.6-7912.2)
8101.5(3034.5-11249.7)
.036*
4806.2(827.4-9798.6)
3796.5(1325.5-7217.2)
.345
6MWT (m)
417.0(324.3-458.5)
442.5(353.5-467.5)
.161
311.00(239.50-509.00)
344.00(259.50-510.00)
.715
SF-12
PCS
34.1(26.4-44.2)
43.1(33.8-51.4)
.093
32.2(27.9-42.4)
32.0(27.5-34.9)
.249
MCS
52.8(42.5-57.7)
55.5(42.9-60.5)
.779
44.3(35.3-54.3)
43.0(38.8-54.3)
.345
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