Abstract

Background:  Daily physical activity (DPA) interventions to induce behavioral changes are attracting special attention, especially, in relation to pedometer.   Aims: To confirm the effects of pedometer intervention on the time course of DPA and COPD assessment test (CAT) in the patients with COPD and ACO (asthma and COPD overlap.  Methods: Male patients with stable COPD (n=35, age 72.8±7.1, %FEV₁=69.3±20.7, data expressed as Mean±SD) who were regularly visiting to our out-patient clinics were retrospectively analyzed.  Following the initial assessment and instructions, at each visit, CAT was scored by the patients, and medical professional stuffs which were composed of a physician, a physical therapist, and nurses advised the patients to put pedometer on and to record the daily counts every day.  Results: DPA significantly increased from the baseline (5253±2500, steps/day) to those at 3 month (6687±2806, p<0.01), and it was well maintained over 1 year (6375 ± 3245, p<0.01).  CAT scores significantly decreased from the baseline (10.8±7.6, points) to those at 3 month (8.7±7.1, p<0.05).  Two subgroups which were separated into COPD (n=22) and ACO (n=13) showed similar and significant increase in DPA at 3 month (P<0.01).  However, while DPA at 1 year tended to be better maintained in the subgroup COPD (p<0.01), DPA in ACO significantly decreased from DPA at 3 month (6516±2758) to DPA at 1 year (5240±2311, p<0.05).   Conclusion: The pedometer education improved DPA and CAT maintained over 1 year. However, the long term effects in the subgroup ACO’s seemed weaker.