Health-Related Quality of Life and Daily Physical Activity Level in Patients with COPD- a Cluster Analysis.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have a limited level of physical activity in daily life (PADL) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The interrelationships of these variables should be measure by cluster analysis to characterize this population and enable rehabilitation programs to target each patient profile identified. This study investigates different phenotypes in COPD according to PADL and HRQOL. A cross-sectional study with cluster analysis was done, in which 76 people with COPD were submitted to measurements to characterize the sample on first day, followed by used of physical activity monitor, which was worn for 7 days. After 7 days, the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and HRQOL questionnaires were applied (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire). The main results: three phenotypes were identified (A, B and C), with phenotype A who exhibited an inactive physical activity level and HRQOL scores above the value deemed satisfactory, phenotype B those with active physical activity level and poor HRQOL scores, and phenotype C subjects with inactive physical activity level and HRQOL scores but the value is close to cutoff point. To conclude, three phenotypes were found, with one indicating disproportionality between PADL and HRQOL.

Evaluation of the Level of Physical Activity and Muscle Strength of Quadriceps in Patients Hospitalized for E-COPD: A Longitudinal Study.

Physical inactivity and peripheral muscle dysfunction are considered two of the main contributors to hospitalizations due to exacerbation and, above all, predictors of mortality for these requirements in patients with COPD. Therefore, longitudinal studies are needed to determine the impact of exacerbations during hospitalization on these two factors, especially after three months of hospital discharge. The objectives of the present study were to assess the level of physical activity in daily life (PADL) and isometric muscle strength of the quadriceps in patients hospitalized for exacerbation of COPD and to verify changes after 3 months of hospital discharge. This is a longitudinal observational study that assessed the PADL level with an accelerometer, after 24 h of the hospitalization and the beginning of the drug treatment and assessed the quadriceps muscle strength with a manual dynamometer, after 72 h of hospitalization, in 32 patients with COPD (66 ± 7.61 years), in addition to repeating both assessments with 30 days of hospital discharge and after 3 months of follow-up. Cognition, dyspnea, general health, physical performance and lung function were assessed to characterize the sample. As main results, there was increase in active time (344 ± 260 - 447 ± 199 min; p = 0.04) and number of steps (4.241 ± 374 - 6.216 ± 400 steps; p = 0.02) after three months. In addition, inactive time showed significant reduction 30 days after hospital discharge (1.151 ± 249 - 1.065 ± 198 min; p = 0.02). The level of physical activity showed significant improvement due to the increase in active time and number of steps after three months of hospital discharge and to the reduction of inactive time 30 days after hospital discharge.

Validity of the Brazilian version of the COPD assessment test in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

INTRODUCTION: COPD Assessment Test (CAT) is a questionnaire defined as one of the main options in the assessment of the impact of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on patients' life, according to the Global Initiative on Obstructive Lung Diseases. However, the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments-COSMIN 2018 has recently determined a correlation coefficient greater than 0.70 and an optimal sample size must have a hundred subjects, hence, validity of the Brazilian version of this instrument is still not yet proven. OBJECTIVE: To verify the validity of the Brazilian version of the Questionnaire CAT in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, comparing it to the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and correlate it with other outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational transversal study with 101 COPD diagnosed subjects who underwent anthropometric data collection, life habits, CAT and SGRQ questionnaires, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale. Spirometry, six-minute walking test (6MWT) and body mass index, Dyspnoea and exercise capacity (BODE). Each evaluative measure was compared to the total CAT score. The validity was considered for a significant Pearson correlation coefficient (r) greater than 0.7. RESULTS: It was observed a strong correlation between the total CAT score and the total SGRQ score (r = 0.703; P < 0.001), as well as moderate correlation with mMRC (r = 0.518; P < 0.001). SGRQ Symptoms (r = 0.627; P < 0.001). SGRQ Activity (r = 0.636; P < 0.001) and SGRQ Impact (r = 0.655; P < 0.001). There were similar correlations between CAT and other variables (6MWT, mMRC and BODE) and SGRQ and the same variables. CONCLUSION: The CAT questionnaire is a valid, reliable and easy-to-use instrument for assessing symptoms and can record the impact of COPD on the patient's quality of life.