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Pedometers to enhance physical activity in COPD: a randomised controlled trial

2014; European Respiratory Society; Volume: 45; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1183/09031936.00084514

1399-3003

Laura Mendoza, Paula Martins Horta, José Espinoza, Miguel Aguilera, Nicolás Balmaceda, Ariel Castro, Mauricio Ruiz, Orlando Díaz, Nicholas S Hopkinson,

Asthma and respiratory diseases

Physical inactivity is a cardinal feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Pedometers, which have been used in healthy populations, might also increase physical activity in patients with COPD. COPD patients taking part in a 3-month individualised programme to promote an increase in their daily physical activity were randomised to either a standard programme of physical activity encouragement alone, or a pedometer-based programme. Assessments were performed by investigators blinded to treatment allocation. Change in average 1-week daily step count, 6-min walking distance (6MWD), modified Medical Research Council scale, St George’s respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) and COPD assessment test (CAT) were compared between groups. 102 patients were recruited, of whom 97 completed the programme (pedometer group: n=50; control group: n=47); 60.8% were male with a mean± sd age of 68.7±8.5 years, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) 66.1±19.4% and FEV 1 /forced vital capacity 55.2±9.5%. Both groups had comparable characteristics at baseline. The pedometer group had significantly greater improvements in: physical activity 3080±3254 steps·day −1 versus 138.3±1950 steps·day −1 (p<0.001); SGRQ −8.8±12.2 versus −3.8±10.9 (p=0.01); CAT score −3.5±5.5 versus −0.6±6.6 (p=0.001); and 6MWD 12.4±34.6 versus −0.7±24.4 m (p=0.02) than patients receiving activity encouragement only. A simple physical activity enhancement programme using pedometers can effectively improve physical activity level and quality of life in COPD patients.