title: [Reduction of physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) decrease their physical activity. However, it is unknown at which stage of the disease the reduction occurs and whether dyspnea is a limiting factor.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare physical activity between patients with COPD and controls of similar age and to assess its association with disease severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 112 patients with mild to very severe COPD and 55 controls. Lung function, six-minutes walking test (SMWT), and physical activity through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to controls, physical activity was significantly reduced in COPD patients (1823 ± 2598 vs. 2920 ± 3040 METs min/week; p = 0.001). Patients were more frequently sedentary (38 vs. 11%), while controls were more often very active (31 vs. 19%) or moderately active (58 vs. 43%). Physical activity was reduced from Global Initiative for Obstructive Chronic Lung Disease (GOLD) stage 2 and from Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnea grade 1. Weak relationships were observed between lung function, SMWT and physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity decreases early in the course of the disease and when dyspnea is still mild, among patients with COPD.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrición, Diabetes y Metabolismo, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parada
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klaassen
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lisboa
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saldías
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Díaz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*