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

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flowchart of study.

Table 1. Sample characterization data.

Variables	N = 24	IC 95%
Sex – F/M (%)	54/46
Age (yrs)	66 ± 7.61	(62–69)
Height (m)	1.59 ± 0.10	(1.54–1.64)
Weight (kg)	61 ± 12.55	(55–67)
IMC (kg/m²)	24 ± 4.92	(21–26)
FEV1 (% of predicted)	42 ± 9.17	(38–46)
GOLD – I, II, III, IV (%)	(0/17/75/8)
mMRC (0–4)	3 (2–3)
CAT	25 ± 5.94	(22–28)
Length of hospital stay (number of days)	6 (5–6)
Exacerbations in the past year (n°)	0 (0–1)
Active smoker	0 (0–1)
Years/Pack	71 ± 50.69	(47–94)
PD 6MWT (meters)	274 ± 76	(242–306)
6MWT (% of predicted)	56 ± 15	(49–62)
Comorbidities	%
AH/DM/AMI Previous/Stroke/Obesity	54/8/4/2/21
PADL
Inactive time (min)
Exacerbation	1.151 ± 249
30 days	1.065 ± 198
Three months	1.050 ± 200
Number of steps
Exacerbation	4.241 ± 374
30 days	5.351 ± 313
Three months	6.216 ± 400
Active time (min)
Exacerbation	344 ± 260
30 days	410 ± 197
Three months	447 ± 199
Quadriceps muscle strength (N)
Exacerbation	173.07 ± 74.08
30 days	185.16 ± 51.45
Three months	190.73 ± 55.41
% of predicted
Exacerbation	64.21 ± 26.76
30 days	64.62 (57–76)
Three months	63.77 (58–82)

Values ​were described as mean ± standard deviation or median and interquartile range. CI = 95% confidence interval, except for gender and GOLD, which are described as number of patients. BMI = body mass index. F = female. M = male. FEV₁ = forced expiratory volume in 1 s. mMRC = modified Medical Research Council. CAT = COPD Assessment Test. N = Newton. PD = Distance traveled. 6MWT = 6-minute walk test. HA = arterial hypertension. DM = diabetes mellitus. AMI = acute myocardial infarction. Stroke = stroke. PADL = level of physical activity in daily life.

Figure 2. Predicted muscle strength values (%) and number of steps dichotomized according to the cutoff values, below and above of 80% e 4580 steps respectively, illustrated in the three moments of evaluation.

Table 2. Variation in the level of physical activity in exacerbation, 30 days and three month follow-up.

Physical activity level	p	Mean difference between exacerbation and 30 days (IC 95%)	p	Mean difference between 30 days and three months (IC 95%)	p		Mean difference between exacerbation and three months (IC 95%)	p
Inactive time (sitting / lying) (min)	0.00*	−85.62 (11 to 160)	0.02*	−15.87 (−96 to 64)		1.00	−101.50 (−204 to 1.39)	0.05
Number of steps	0.00*	1.110 (−293 to 2.514)	0.1	865 (−628 to 2.358)		0.1	1.975 (239 to 3.711)	0.02*
Active Time (min)	0.04*	65.37 (−10 to 141)	0.2	37.08 (−52 to 126)		1.00	102.45 (−1.78 to 206)	0.04*

*= p < 0.05. Values were described as mean and 95% confidence interval. An analysis of variation of repeated measures was used to compare the results at hospitalization, 30 days and three months after hospital discharge.

Table 3. Variation in quadriceps muscle strength on exacerbation, 30 days and three month follow-up.

Variation	p	Mean difference between exacerbation and 30 days (IC 95%)	p	Mean difference between 30 days and three months (IC 95%)	p		Mean difference between exacerbation three months (IC 95%)	p
Quadriceps muscle strength (RLL)	0.27	12.08 (18–43)	0.97	5.57 (13–24)		0.60	17.65 (17–52)	0.60
% of predicted muscle strength (RLL)	0.29	4.30 (6–15)	0.98	1.88 (5–9)		1.00	6.18 (6–18)	0.61

*= p < 0.05. Values were described as mean and 95% confidence interval. An analysis of variation of repeated measures was used to compare results at hospitalization, 30 days and three months after hospital discharge. RLL = right lower limb.