Regular physical activity reduces hospital admission

[gerald]

The studies covers about 20 years of data.  The conclusions are what we would expect.  There is a link to the full study available on the linked page.


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Regular physical activity reduces hospital admission and mortality in
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population based cohort study

J Garcia-Aymerich1, P Lange2,3, M Benet1, P Schnohr2, J M Antó1,4


Abstract

Background: Information about the influence of regular physical activity on the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is scarce. A study was undertaken to examine the association between regular physical activity and both hospital admissions for COPD and all-cause and specific mortality in COPD subjects.

Methods: From a population-based sample recruited in Copenhagen in 1981–3 and 1991–4, 2386 individuals with COPD (according to lung function tests) were identified and followed until 2000. Self-reported regular physical activity at baseline was classified into four categories (very low, low, moderate, and high). Dates and causes of hospital admissions and mortality were obtained from Danish registers. Adjusted associations between physical activity and hospital admissions for COPD and mortality were obtained using negative binomial and Cox regression models, respectively.

Results: After adjustment for relevant confounders, subjects reporting low, moderate or high physical activity had a lower risk of hospital admission for COPD during the follow up period than those who reported very low physical activity (incidence rate ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53 to 0.97). Low, moderate and high levels of regular physical activity were associated with an adjusted lower risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 0.76, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.90) and respiratory mortality (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.02). No effect modification was found for sex, age group, COPD severity, or a background of ischaemic heart disease.

Conclusions: Subjects with COPD who perform some level of regular physical activity have a lower risk of both COPD admissions and mortality. The recommendation that COPD patients be encouraged to maintain or increase their levels of regular physical activity should be considered in future COPD guidelines, since it is likely to result in a relevant public health benefit.



thorax.bmj.com/content/61/9/772

[skate4life]

Ok time to vent - I am so sick of all these studies that all say the same thing year after year!! I disagree that information is scare. What the heck does this author think all the pulmonary rehab studies show about the value of exercise?

More effort should be made to get primary care physicians (and nurse practitioners, etc.) to get educated about COPD, purchase a basic spirometer machine, and make a written prescription for specific exercise WITH frequent follow-ups of patient's progress.

[sharon]

I went through pulm rehab , ended somewhere around april. They do not have maintenance there, they used to but not anymore. I applied for a reduced rate to the YMCA so I could  keep up but they never sent me or called to say I would be accepted, called there and no one could tell me anything. There is not any place close to exercise so I walk outside when I can, or sometimes go to mall and walk. I have a bike here inside and ride that and my weights to exercise with. Sure would be nice to have a place to go do treadmill ect. They should make rehab more accessible. 

[jarca]

I love the replies
"eat right & exercise"----isn't that supposed to prolong everyone's life, not just those with copd?
20 years it took them to study this ROFLOL
i wish i'd get a better SSI 'benefit' raise with those tax dollars they are using 

gerald; I do appreciate your posting the information