Long Term Evaluation of Activity Levels Post Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by airflow limitation and by both systemic and airway inflammation. Together these features lead to decreased physical activity which in turn worsens the patient's dyspnoea. In patients with COPD, physical activity levels are low compared to healthy controls and indeed lower than in patients with other chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes. For patients with COPD, decreased physical activity and breathlessness are significant predictors of mortality and morbidity. By reversing deconditioning pulmonary rehabilitation using supervised and home exercise programs leads to increased exercise capacity and health quality of life scores. In order for the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation to be sustained in the long-term it is essential that there is a change in the patient's physical activity in their home life. While practice guidelines recommend that there is transference of exercise to the home setting it is unknown if this happens in reality. Addressing whether there is an increase in physical activity at home after pulmonary rehabilitation is the focus of this study.

Physical activity can be measured in a number of ways, including direct observation, patient diaries and questionnaires, but one of the most successful are the performance based motion sensors such as pedometers and accelerometers. One such performance based motion sensor is the SenseWear accelerometer. The SenseWear has previously been used in patients with COPD, has been shown to be a reliable measure of physical activity performed in this population, other than those using rolators and it is objectively more accurate than questionnaires and diaries. The hypothesis of this study was that pulmonary rehabilitation leads to a sustained improvement in physical activity in patients with COPD. Physical activity was measured by the daily averaged activity recorded with a SenseWear armband at several time points in the year after a course of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Inclusion criteria

• A diagnosis of COPD based on the GOLD staging of the disease
• Referred to pulmonary rehabilitation by a respiratory consultant or member of the COPD Team
• Modified Medical Research Council Score of 3 or above
• Ability to mobilize independently
• Motivated to exercise independently

Exclusion criteria

• No evidence of COPD on spirometry
• Acute exacerbation within the last 4-6 weeks
• Evidence of ischemic heart disease/acute changes on ECG
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
• Inability to exercise independently or musculoskeletal/neurological conditions which would prevent completion of the course
• Lung cancer previous attendance at pulmonary rehabilitation