Relationship between pulmonary exacerbations and daily physical activity in adults with cystic fibrosis
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between pulmonary exacerbations and
physical activity (PA) in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).
Methods: We grouped adults with CF according to their exacerbation status in the year before study enrolment:
(1) <1 exacerbation/year; (2) 1–2 exacerbations/year; and (3) >2 exacerbations/year. PA was assessed objectively by
means of an accelerometer at the time of study enrolment.
Results: Patients with >2 exacerbations/year spent less time in PA; specifically, fewer activities of mild intensity [>3
metabolic equivalents (METs)], and lower active energy expenditure (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). After
correcting for relevant confounders, PA levels were not related to the exacerbation frequency in the preceding year.
PA at moderate intensity (4.8–7.2 METs) or greater (>7.2 METs) was independently associated with gender and FEV1
% predicted (P = 0.007 and P = 0.04, respectively). Compared with men, women had reduced vigorous activities
(P = 0.01) and active energy expenditure (P = 0.01).
Conclusions: Adult CF patients with more pulmonary exacerbations in the preceding year have more advanced
disease and are less active than their peers. PA was independently associated with gender and airflow obstruction.
Gender differences in PA are evident in CF adults
physical activity (PA) in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).
Methods: We grouped adults with CF according to their exacerbation status in the year before study enrolment:
(1) <1 exacerbation/year; (2) 1–2 exacerbations/year; and (3) >2 exacerbations/year. PA was assessed objectively by
means of an accelerometer at the time of study enrolment.
Results: Patients with >2 exacerbations/year spent less time in PA; specifically, fewer activities of mild intensity [>3
metabolic equivalents (METs)], and lower active energy expenditure (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). After
correcting for relevant confounders, PA levels were not related to the exacerbation frequency in the preceding year.
PA at moderate intensity (4.8–7.2 METs) or greater (>7.2 METs) was independently associated with gender and FEV1
% predicted (P = 0.007 and P = 0.04, respectively). Compared with men, women had reduced vigorous activities
(P = 0.01) and active energy expenditure (P = 0.01).
Conclusions: Adult CF patients with more pulmonary exacerbations in the preceding year have more advanced
disease and are less active than their peers. PA was independently associated with gender and airflow obstruction.
Gender differences in PA are evident in CF adults
Date Issued
2015-12-01
Date Acceptance
2015-11-24
Citation
BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 2015, 15
ISSN
1471-2466
Publisher
BioMed Central
Journal / Book Title
BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Volume
15
Copyright Statement
© 2015 Savi et al. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to
the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver
(http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to
the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver
(http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
License URL
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Respiratory System
Daily physical activity
Pulmonary exacerbation rates
Cystic fibrosis
Gender difference
LUNG-FUNCTION DECLINE
MUSCLE STRENGTH
EXERCISE
CHILDREN
OUTCOMES
HEALTH
IMPACT
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
151