PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL IN STABLE COPD PATIENTS FROM CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE: RESULTS FROM A LARGE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

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SESSION TITLE: Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Muscle Dysfunction SESSION TYPE: Original Investigations PRESENTED ON: 10/22/2019 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM PURPOSE: Physical activity (PA) is an important functional outcome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Low levels of PA are associated with a higher risk of exacerbations, exacerbations-related hospitalizations and mortality in COPD patients. This study aimed to describe the PA level (PAL) in a large population of stable COPD patients in Europe. The results from 5 Central Eastern European (CEE) countries are presented. METHODS: This multinational, cross-sectional study (NCT03031769) was conducted in 11 countries. In total, 2162 COPD patients were enrolled; some 1422 patients were from CEE countries: Romania (RO) 406, Poland (PL) 356, Serbia (SB) 250, Bulgaria (BG) 210 and Slovakia (SK) 200. All patients had COPD with duration of ≥1 year and no exacerbation history or changes in maintenance treatment in the last 2 months before enrolment. At each study visit, dyspnea was assessed with modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale. PAL was assessed through patient self-reports during clinical interview and clinical judgment of physicians (no specific guidance provided). The EVS program (exercise vital sign) and Yale Physical Activity Survey (YAPS) were used for self-reports. Active/insufficiently active/inactive were defined as performing ≥150/149-1/0 minutes/week of moderate to vigorous exercise, respectively. RESULTS: The 5 cohorts of patients presented the following mean ages (years): BG 66.7, PL 67.0, RO 65.9, SK 66.6, SB 68.0. Most patients had moderate to severe airflow obstruction: BG 84.3%, PL 87.7%, RO 83.7%, SK 90.0%, SB 80.0%. In BG 72.8%, PL 64.0%, RO 72.4%, SK 67.5% and SB 51.6% patients had mMRC≥2. The percentages of self-reported vs. clinically judged active patients were: BG 33.8% vs 44.3%, PL 38.5% vs 32.9%, RO 23.9% vs 54.4%, SK 36.0% vs 59.0%, SB 31.2% vs 38.4%. The percentages of completely inactive patients as self-reported by subjects vs. clinically judged by physicians were: BG 27.1% vs 12.4%, PL 15.2% vs 13.2%, RO 37.2% vs 9.1%, SK 37.0% vs 7.0%, SB 30.8% vs 9.6%, respectively. By YPAS, the mean time spent in mostly light activities expressed in hours/day was BG 2.8, PL 2.4, RO 3.7, SK 2.9, SB 3.4. The summary index of YPAS indicated the following values in each country: BG 41.0, PL 37.8, RO 45.3, SK 45.0 and SB 43.9, where 51 is the cut-off score used to identify COPD patients at risk of sedentarism CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms low levels of physical activity among COPD patients in CEE countries. In the absence of standardized tools, physicians tend to overestimate the physical activity of their COPD patients. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Physicians and patients have a different perception of physical activity. Generally, COPD patients are less active than their physicians perceive. Clinicians should be equipped with adequate tools to assess and promote physical activity in their respiratory patients. DISCLOSURES: Employee relationship with AstraZeneca Please note: $1001 - $5000 Added 03/10/2019 by Silviu Alecu, source=Web Response, value=Salary No relevant relationships by Adam Antczak, source=Web Response Employee relationship with AstraZeneca Please note: $1001 - $5000 Added 03/14/2019 by Yunqin Chen, source=Web Response, value=Salary No relevant relationships by Florin Mihaltan, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Vesna Radulović, source=Web Response