Physical activity and symptom burden in COPD: The Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) study

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> This cross-sectional study investigated physical activity (PA) levels in the Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD), a population-based prospective longitudinal cohort study that includes undiagnosed and mild COPD, both underrepresented in previous studies. Furthermore, interaction between symptom burden and PA levels in the general COPD population remains poorly understood. <b>Objective:</b> The primary objective was to investigate the relationship between symptom burden and moderate PA levels in individuals with COPD from a random sampling that mirror the COPD population at large. <b>Methods:</b> Baseline CanCOLD participants (n=1558) were selected. Participants with mild COPD (n=406), moderate-to-severe COPD (n=331), healthy individuals (n=347), and those ‘at risk’ of developing COPD (n=474) were included. The Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire was used to assess PA levels in energy expenditure (kcal/weeks). High symptom burden was classified using the COPD assessment test (CAT ≥10). <b>Results:</b> Significant associations were found between high symptom burden and lower PA levels in the overall COPD sample (β =-717.09; 95%CI =-1079.78, -354.40; p&lt;0.001) and in the moderate-to-severe COPD subgroup (β=-694.1;&nbsp;95% CI=-1206.54, -181.66; p=0.008). <b>Conclusion:</b> PA levels were found to be related to symptom burden in a large general population sample that included newly diagnosed patients and patients from mild to severe COPD. Assessment of symptom burden may identify patients with lower PA levels in the earlier stages of disease.