Correlation of Physical Activity and Respiratory Health in COPD Patient
Condition: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
MeSH terms: Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      COPD is a common, preventable and treatable disease that is characterized by persistent
      respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is due to airway and/or alveolar
      abnormalities, usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases. COPD is
      third leading cause of death worldwide. "Ideal cardiovascular health," a set of factors,
      including several directly along the causal pathway of transitions from health to disease,
      that protect against the development of cardiac disease. Working definition of respiratory
      health are the dual concepts of pulmonary reserve, as reflected by peak lung function in
      young adulthood, and susceptibility, as reflected by risk for future accelerated decline in
      lung function after the attainment of this peak. There is relationship between physical
      activity, disease severity, health status and prognosis in patients with COPD. Common
      pulmonary function tests include spirometry, lung volumes, and diffusing capacity for carbon
      monoxide (DLCO). Spirometry assesses airflow limitation. Diffusing capacity for carbon
      monoxide provides information on the health of alveolar-capillary membrane.

      This study will be cross-sectional correlational study. It will find correlation between
      person's physical activity and respiratory health. IPAQ and 6MIN walk test will be used as
      measuring tools of physical activity and FEV1 and TLV for estimating respiratory health.
      Spirometer will be used to measure respiratory health. Data will be collected from different
      hospital settings and analysed using SPSS software. All ethical considerations will be
      followed.
    

Detailed description: 
      Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous and multisystemic disease
      with progressive increasing morbidity and mortality. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
      (COPD) is a deteriorating respiratory disease with some extrapulmonary effects that
      contribute to disease severity in patient. The etiology, in general, involves exposure to
      external noxious particles or gases. In the Western world this is particularly a result of
      (cigarette) smoking and in the non-Western world it is mainly a result of indoor cooking.
      COPD pathology is driven by chronic inflammation, which continues to be observed after
      stopping smoking, even after ⩾1 year. The combination of the exposure and inflammation leads
      to lung tissue damage, resulting in remodeling of the lung.Global Burden of Disease programme
      in 2010 identified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the third leading cause of
      death worldwide up from 4th in 1990. This high mortality due to COPD is caused due to smoking
      and rapidly aging population. China alone contributed to about one-third (0.9million/year) of
      all deaths from COPD worldwide. Within China, the prevalence of COPD varies substantially by
      region and death rates attributed to COPD are twofold greater in South-West compared with
      North-East regions for reasons that are not fully understood.

      Physical activity in terms of body movements, walking time and standing time has been shown
      to be reduced in patients with severe COPD. However, it is currently unknown at which
      clinical stage of the disease limitations of physical activity are first displayed.
      Furthermore, the relationships between physical activity and clinical characteristics
      reflecting the disease severity, such as the degree of airway obstruction, distance walked in
      6 min, self-reported grade of dyspnea and clinical stages of COPD, need to be investigated
      as, to date, data are inconclusive or have never been evaluated. For example, some studies
      have found substantial correlations between airway obstruction and physical activity, while
      others found no or only loose relationships. Previous studies indicate that the 6-min walking
      distance (6MWD) might best reflect physical activity, while a recent study found airway
      obstruction to correlate with physical activity better than 6MWD.
    

Observational model: Ecologic or Community
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Researcher will visit selected hospital setting with questionnaire and Consent form.
        Consent form will be signed from patient prior to questionnaire. IPAQ Questionnaire will be
        given and briefly elaborated before filling. 6MVT and spirometry measurements will be taken
        after and documented.
      
Keywords: Respiratory Health; Pulmonary Function; Physical Activity; COPD