Phenotyping Adopters of Mobile Applications Among Patients With COPD: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Rúben Caceiro,Fernando Silva,Nádia Hipólito,Sofia Flora,Alda Marques,Joana Cruz,Dina Brooks,Ana Oliveira,Sara Pimenta,Nuno Morais,José Ribeiro,Chris Burtin,Bruno P Carreira,Cândida G Silva

doi:10.3389/fresc.2021.729237

Abstract

Effectiveness of technology-based interventions to improve physical activity (PA) in people with COPD is controversial. Mixed results may be due to participants' characteristics influencing their use of and engagement with mobile health apps. This study compared demographic, clinical, physical and PA characteristics of patients with COPD using and not using mobile apps in daily life. Patients with COPD who used smartphones were asked about their sociodemographic and clinic characteristics, PA habits and use of mobile apps (general and PA-related). Participants performed a six-minute walk test (6MWT), gait speed test and wore an accelerometer for 7 days. Data were compared between participants using (App Users) and not using (Non-App Users) mobile apps. A sub-analysis was conducted comparing characteristics of PA–App Users and Non-Users. 59 participants were enrolled (73% Male; 66.3 ± 8.3 yrs; FEV1 48.7 ± 18.4% predicted): 59% were App Users and 25% were PA-App Users. Significant differences between App Users and Non-App Users were found for age (64.2 ± 8.9 vs. 69.2 ± 6.3yrs), 6MWT (462.9 ± 91.7 vs. 414.9 ± 82.3 m), Gait Speed (Median 1.5 [Q1–Q3: 1.4–1.8] vs. 2.0 [1.0–1.5]m/s), Time in Vigorous PA (0.6 [0.2–2.8] vs. 0.14 [0.1–0.7]min) and Self-Reported PA (4.0 [1.0–4.0] vs. 1.0 [0.0–4.0] Points). Differences between PA–App Users and Non-Users were found in time in sedentary behavior (764.1 [641.8–819.8] vs. 672.2 [581.2–749.4] min) and self-reported PA (4.0 [2.0–6.0] vs. 2.0 [0.0–4.0] points). People with COPD using mobile apps were younger and had higher physical capacity than their peers not using mobile apps. PA-App Users spent more time in sedentary behaviors than Non-Users although self-reporting more time in PA.

Highlights

People with COPD present persistent airflow limitation, respiratory symptoms, such as dyspnea and fatigue, and exercise intolerance [1] which greatly impact their daily life [2]
Our findings suggest that people with COPD who use mobile apps are younger and have higher physical capacity compared with their peers that do not use mobile apps
Those who used physical activity (PA) apps reported spending more time in moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA), objective accelerometry data showed no significant differences in MVPA between groups and higher time spent in sedentary behaviors in PA-Apps Users

Summary

Introduction

People with COPD present persistent airflow limitation, respiratory symptoms, such as dyspnea and fatigue, and exercise intolerance [1] which greatly impact their daily life [2]. These symptoms make physical activity (PA) an unpleasant experience, which many patients try to avoid, leading to inactive lifestyles [3]. Low PA levels are the 4th leading risk factor for death worldwide [6] and, in people with COPD, they are highly associated with increased risk for hospitalizations, mortality and reduced health-related quality of life [1, 4]. Improving patients’ PA levels is a priority for patients themselves, governments, policymakers and clinicians worldwide [1, 7]

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