Abstract
BackgroundIn lung disease, physical activity (PA) yields beneficial health effects, but its association with the function of healthy lungs has rarely been studied. We investigated the association of accelerometer-based PA with spirometric indices, maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax) and lung diffusion capacity in lung-healthy adults.MethodsIn total, 341 apparently lung-healthy participants from the population-based KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) FF4 cohort study (45% male, aged 48-68 years, 47% never smokers) completed lung function testing and wore ActiGraph accelerometers over a one week period at the hip. In adjusted regression analyses, moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was characterized as: sex-specific activity quartiles, achieving ≥ 10 consecutive minutes (yes vs. no), and meeting the WHO PA recommendations (yes vs. no).ResultsPositive associations of MVPA-quartiles with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and corresponding Global Lung Function Initiative z-scores were found. Subjects in the most active quartile (> 47 or > 50 min/day for females and males, respectively) had 142 ml [95% CI: 23, 260] higher FEV1 and 155 ml [95% CI: 10, 301] higher FVC than those in the least active quartile (< 17 or < 21 min/day for females and males, respectively); however these associations were stronger among ex−/current smokers. Achieving at least once 10 consecutive minutes of MVPA was only associated with higher PImax [β-estimate: 0.57 kPa; 95% CI: 0.04, 1.10], remaining significant among never smokers. No associations were found with diffusion capacity or for reaching the WHO-recommended 150 min of MVPA/week in 10-min bouts.ConclusionsAlthough the effects were small, active subjects showed higher spirometric results. The observed associations were more pronounced among ever smokers suggesting a higher benefit of PA for subjects being at a higher risk for chronic lung diseases.
Highlights
In lung disease, physical activity (PA) yields beneficial health effects, but its association with the function of healthy lungs has rarely been studied
The positive associations between being active and volumetric indices were more pronounced among ex−/current smokers, suggesting a higher benefit of PA for subjects being at a higher risk for chronic lung diseases
Objective measurements of physical activity showed a weak, but positive association with slightly higher volumetric lung function indices in lung-healthy adults from southern Germany. This association was mainly observed among ex−/current smokers
Summary
Physical activity (PA) yields beneficial health effects, but its association with the function of healthy lungs has rarely been studied. Results from a longitudinal study among middle-aged men showed that those with higher levels of PA experienced slower lung function decline over 25 years [11]. All these studies assessed PA by questionnaires, which was found to correlate only low-to-moderately with activity objectively assessed by motion sensors in adults [12, 13]. Results of a study among 62 smokers showed that lung function between inactive participants, defined as those who engaged in less than 150 min/week of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and active ones did not differ [15].
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