title: The effects of a physical activity counseling program after an exacerbation in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In some patients with COPD, the disease is characterized by exacerbations. Severe exacerbations warrant a hospitalization, with prolonged detrimental effects on physical activity. Interventions after an exacerbation may improve physical activity, with longstanding health benefits. Physical activity counseling and real-time feedback were effective in stable COPD. No evidence is available on the use of this therapeutic modality in patients after a COPD exacerbation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients were randomly assigned to usual care or physical activity counseling, by telephone contacts at a frequency of 3 times a week and real-time feedback. Lung function, peripheral muscle strength, functional exercise capacity, symptom experience and COPD-related health status were assessed during hospital stay and 1 month later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups significantly recovered in physical activity (PAsteps: control group: 1013 ± 1275 steps vs intervention group: 984 ± 1208 steps (p = 0.0005); PAwalk: control group: 13 ± 14 min vs intervention group: 13 ± 16 min (p = 0.0002)), functional exercise capacity (control group: 64 ± 59 m (p = 0.002) vs intervention group: 67 ± 84 m (p = 0.02)) and COPD-related health status (CAT: control group: -5 [-7 to 1] (p = 0.02) vs intervention group: -3 [-10 to 1] points (p = 0.03)). No differences between groups were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From our pilot study, we concluded that telephone based physical activity counseling with pedometer feedback after an exacerbation did not result in better improvements in physical activity and clinical outcomes compared to usual care. Because of the difficult recruitment and the negative intermediate analyses, this study was not continued.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02223962. Registered 4 September 2013.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium. miek.hornikx@faber.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Miek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hornikx
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium. heleen.demeyer@faber.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Heleen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demeyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium. carlos.camillo@faber.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Camillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium. wim.janssens@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium. thierry.troosters@med.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Troosters
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010865:Pilot Projects; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity