Indacaterol improves daily physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Background: The current mainstay of therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is long-acting bronchodilators. To date, the effect of indacaterol, a β2-agonist, on activities of daily living in COPD patients is not well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of indacaterol with regard to activities of daily living in patients with COPD.

Methods: In this nonrandomized open-label study, 23 patients with COPD were instructed to carry an accelerometer for 4 weeks without indacaterol therapy and then for another period of 4 weeks while receiving indacaterol therapy.

Results: The number of steps, duration of moderate or greater physical activity, and energy expenditure were significantly increased after treatment with indacaterol compared with baseline data in all patients with COPD; the metabolic equivalent of task was also significantly enhanced after treatment with indacaterol.

Conclusion: This study provides early evidence that indacaterol improves daily physical activity in patients with COPD.

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; indacaterol; long-acting β2-agonist; physical activity.

Figure 1

Study design. Notes: Patients fixed the Lifecorder to their belts for a period of 4 weeks without receiving indacaterol therapy and then for another period of 4 weeks while receiving 150 μg of inhaled indacaterol.

Figure 2

Response to indacaterol. Maximum inspiratory capacity (A), FEV₁ (B), and 6MWT (C) improved significantly after 4 weeks of treatment with indacaterol. The CAT score (D) tended to decrease after treatment with indacaterol. Notes: Horizontal bars indicate the means. Statistical analysis was performed using the nonparametric Wilcoxon’s rank test. Abbreviations: 6MWT, six-minute walk test; CAT, COPD Assessment Test; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in one second.

Figure 3

Effect of indacaterol on physical activity parameters. Number of steps (A), duration of moderate or more exercise (B), energy expenditure (C) and metabolic equivalent of task (D) improved significantly after treatment with indacaterol in all patients. Notes: Horizontal bars indicate the means. Statistical analysis was performed using the nonparametric Wilcoxon’s rank test.