Physical activity and sedentary time are related to clinically relevant health outcomes among adults with obstructive lung disease

Shilpa Dogra,Matthew P Buman,Jennifer L Copeland,Paul A Gardiner,Michael K Stickland,Joshua Good

doi:10.1186/s12890-018-0659-8

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of the current study was to determine the association between sedentary time and physical activity with clinically relevant health outcomes among adults with impaired spirometry and those with or without self-reported obstructive lung disease (asthma or COPD).MethodsData from participants of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were used for analysis (n = 4156). Lung function was assessed using spirometry. Adults were said to have impaired spirometry if their Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s was <5th percentile lower limit of normal (LLN). A modified version of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly was used to assess sitting time and physical activity levels. Healthcare use and quality of life outcomes were assessed using self report.ResultsAmong those with asthma, participating in strengthening activities was associated with lower odds of reporting poor perceived health (OR = 0.65, CI: 0.53, 0.79), poor perceived mental-health (OR = 0.73, CI: 0.60, 0.88), unhealthy aging (OR = 0.68, CI: 0.56, 0.83), and reporting an emergency department visit in the past 12 months (OR = 0.76, CI: 0.60, 0.95). Among those with COPD, those who reported highest weekly sedentary time had higher odds of reporting poor perceived health (OR = 2.70, CI: 1.72, 4.24), poor perceived mental-health (OR = 1.99, CI: 1.29, 3.06), and unhealthy aging (OR = 3.04, CI: 1.96, 4.72). Among those below the LLN, sitting time (OR = 2.57, CI: 1.40, 4.72) and moderate intensity physical activity (OR = 0.23, CI: 0.09, 0.63) were associated with overnight hospital stays.ConclusionsHigher physical activity levels and lower sedentary time may be associated with lower healthcare use and better quality of life. This research may have implications related to the use of physical activity for improving health outcomes and quality of life among adults with obstructive lung disease or impaired spirometry.

Highlights

The purpose of the current study was to determine the association between sedentary time and physical activity with clinically relevant health outcomes among adults with impaired spirometry and those with or without self-reported obstructive lung disease
Recent evidence suggests that both physical activity and sedentary time are associated with lung function among healthy adults
A significant association was noted between Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) with strenuous intensity physical activity, such that those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) participating in strenuous intensity physical activity had a higher FEV1/ FVC

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of the current study was to determine the association between sedentary time and physical activity with clinically relevant health outcomes among adults with impaired spirometry and those with or without self-reported obstructive lung disease (asthma or COPD). Sedentary behavior is any activity performed in a seated or reclined position requiring low energy expenditure while awake [14], and a growing body of literature suggests an association between time spent in sedentary activities and health [15], among older adults [16]. Among those with COPD and asthma, sedentary time may be associated with dyspnea, higher health care use, worse disease management, and all-cause mortality [17,18,19,20]. The association between sedentary time and clinically relevant health outcomes among those with existing obstructive lung diseases or among those with impaired spirometry is not known

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