Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 May-Jun;25(3):296-302.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2020.07.005. Epub 2020 Jul 30.

Physical activity and inactivity among different body composition phenotypes in individuals with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Lorena P Schneider  1 , Larissa G Sartori  1 , Felipe V C Machado  2 , Daniele Dala Pola  1 , Diery Fernandes Rugila  3 , Raquel P Hirata  1 , Mariana P Bertoche  1 , Carlos A Camillo  3 , Nidia A Hernandes  1 , Karina C Furlanetto  3 , Fabio Pitta  4
Affiliations

Physical activity and inactivity among different body composition phenotypes in individuals with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Lorena P Schneider et al. Braz J Phys Ther. 2021 May-Jun.

Abstract

Background: The phenotype profiling of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) according to impairments in body composition and level of physical activity in daily life (PADL) needs to be determined.

Objective: To verify if individuals with COPD classified as physically active/inactive present different characteristics within different body composition phenotypes.

Methods: Individuals with COPD were cross-sectionally stratified into four groups according to fat-free and fat mass indexes: Normal Body Composition (NBC), Obese (Ob), Sarcopenic (Sarc), and Sarcopenic/Obese (Sarc/Ob). Additionally, individuals had their PADL level objectively assessed through activity monitoring during two weekdays for at least 10h/day, and then were classified as physically active (Act) or inactive (Inact) according to international recommendations. Lung function (spirometry), exercise capacity (6-minute walking test [6MWT]) and peripheral muscle strength (1-repetition maximum [1RM]) were also assessed.

Results: 176 individuals with COPD (mean±standard deviation age: 67±8 years, body mass index 26±6kg/m2, FEV1 47±16%predicted) were classified as: NBC+Act (17%), NBC+Inact (22%), Ob+Act (6%), Ob+Inact (10%), Sarc+Act (12%), Sarc+Inact (9%), Sarc/Ob+Act (8%) and Sarc/Ob+Inact (16%). The Sarc/Ob+Inact group presented lower 6MWT and 1RM for knee extension compared to NBC+Act, NBC+Inact, and Ob+Act groups (p<0.05). The Sarc/Ob+Inact group also presented lower FEV1% predicted, 1RM for elbow flexion and elbow extension compared to the NBC+Act and NBC+Inact groups and lower 1RM for elbow extension compared to Ob+Inact group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The combination of sarcopenia, obesity, and physical inactivity was shown to be detrimental in individuals with COPD. Therefore, this profile is a main therapeutic target for improving PADL level and/or body composition.

Keywords: Body composition; COPD; Exercise; Lungs; Respiratory tract diseases.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Garcia-Aymerich J., Lange P., Benet M. Regular physical activity reduces hospital admission and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population based cohort study. Thorax. 2006;61(9):772–778. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Singh D., Agusti A., Anzueto A. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive lung disease: the GOLD science committee report 2019. Eur Respir J. 2019;53(5) doi: 10.1183/13993003.00164-2019. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ramon M.A., Ter Riet G., Carsin A.E. The dyspnoea-inactivity vicious circle in COPD: development and external validation of a conceptual model. Eur Respir J. 2018;52(3) doi: 10.1183/13993003.00079-2018. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Garber C.E., Blissmer B., Deschenes M.R. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(7):1334–1359. - PubMed
    1. Haskell W.L., Lee I.M., Pate R.R. Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2007;116(9):1081–1093. - PubMed