title: Physical Activity as a Predictor of Absence of Frailty in Subjects With Stable COPD and COPD Exacerbation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Frailty is a key issue in the care of elderly patients. Patients with COPD are more likely to be frail, with a prevalence of 57.8%. Frailty is associated with a low level of physical activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive power and identify the cutoffs of physical activity in their different domains (household, leisure time, and sport) for the absence of frailty in subjects with COPD exacerbation and stable COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted. The participants underwent an individual interview, including sociodemographic and clinical aspects. The total physical activity and its domains were assessed by the modified Baecke questionnaire, and frailty was measured according to the modified version of Fried. A total of 212 subjects with COPD (104 stable and 108 with COPD exacerbation) were enrolled, along with 100 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of frailty was higher in subjects with COPD compared with the control group. An activity level of 3.54 for COPD exacerbation, 3.88 for stable COPD, and 3.50 for healthy subjects assessed using the Baecke questionnaire were recommended as the cutoff points for frailty. Sensitivity and specificity values were 0.95 and 0.807; 0.95 and 0.815; and 0.95 and 0.947, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity level can predict the absence or presence of frailty in subjects with stable and exacerbated COPD.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Spain. cvalenza@ugr.es.
authors.forename: Marie Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Valenza
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Torres-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cabrera-Martos
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Torres
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences. University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: González-Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Medicine Service, San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Casaubon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: COPD; activity levels; exacerbation; frailty; physical activity; physical impairment