Daily activity during stability and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During most COPD exacerbations, patients continue to live in the community but there is little information on changes in activity during exacerbations due to the difficulties of obtaining recent, prospective baseline data.

Methods

Patients recorded on daily diary cards any worsening in respiratory symptoms, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and the number of steps taken per day measured with a Yamax Digi-walker pedometer. Exacerbations were defined by increased respiratory symptoms and the number of exacerbations experienced in the 12 months preceding the recording of daily step count used to divide patients into frequent (> = 2/year) or infrequent exacerbators.

Results

The 73 COPD patients (88% male) had a mean (±SD) age 71(±8) years and FEV1 53(±16)% predicted.

SUBMITTER: Alahmari AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4057595 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature