Effectiveness of an intervention of Urban Training in patients with COPD: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Body: There is a need to design interventions that increase physical activity (PA) in COPD patients at the long term. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of the Urban Training intervention on PA after 12 months in COPD patients. Methods: We recruited 410 COPD patients from 33 primary care centers and 5 hospitals from Catalonia in 2013-2015 and allocated them randomly 1:1 to Urban Training or Usual Care. The Urban Training intervention combined behavioral strategies (motivational interviewing, pedometers, calendars, text messages, and walking groups) and unsupervised walking in trails from outdoor public spaces specifically designed for COPD (PLoSOne 14;11(1):e0146705). Primary outcome: steps/day by accelerometer; secondary: hospital admissions, exercise capacity, body composition, health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression. Modified intention to treat (MITT) and per protocol (PP) populations were analyzed, the latter including patients adherent to their corresponding intervention. Results: Patients were 85% male, had age 69 (8.5) years, and FEV1 56 (16) % pred. 284 patients completed the follow-up. In MITT there was no difference in the number of steps, but a large difference was observed in PP approach (Table 1). There were no differences in secondary outcomes. Conclusions: The Urban Training intervention increased PA after 12 months of follow-up in adherent patients.