Abstract

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Background

Sitting time and physical activity may be modifiable determinants of lung function. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect that replacing various movement behaviours has on lung function among individuals with and without obstructive lung disease.

Data and methods

For analysis, data were used from participants of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, recruited between 2012 and 2015. Lung function was assessed using spirometry. A modified version of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly was used to assess sitting time and physical activity levels. Isotemporal substitution analysis was performed to analyze the effects of replacing 30 minutes per day of one movement behaviour with another, keeping the total time constant. Analyses were run separately for individuals with an obstructive lung disease (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] < 5th percentile lower limit of normal; n=3,398), and healthy adults (n=14,707).

Results

When sitting time was replaced with 30 minutes per day of any type of physical activity or sleep, an increase in percent (%) of predicted FEV1 (i.e., β=0.65, confidence interval [CI]: 0.43, 0.88 for replacing sitting time with strenuous or strengthening activity) was observed among healthy adults. Among adults with obstructive lung disease, replacing 30 minutes per day of sitting time or sleep duration with strenuous or strengthening activity was associated with an improvement in the percent of predicted FEV1 (i.e., β=0.98, CI: 0.13, 1.82 for replacing sleep duration with strenuous or strengthening activity).

Interpretation

Replacing sitting time with physical activity leads to significant improvements in lung function among adults with an obstructive lung disease, as well as among adults without a respiratory disease.

Keywords

asthma, COPD, pulmonary disease, exercise, sedentary time

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x201900300002-eng

Findings

Lung function declines steadily with increasing age. It has been suggested that smoking, environmental and occupational factors, nutrition, comorbidity, and physical activity may affect this age-associated decline. Physical activity, in particular, shows promise as a modifiable risk factor, since longitudinal evidence suggests that it may reduce the decline in lung function associated with smoking. Cross-sectional studies have also identified a positive association between physical activity levels and lung function. [Full Text]

Authors

Shilpa Dogra (Shilpa.Dogra@uoit.ca), Joshua Good and David Rudoler are with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario. Paul A. Gardiner is with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia. Jennifer L. Copeland is with the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta. Michael K. Stickland is with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, and the G.F. MacDonald Centre for Lung Health, Edmonton, Alberta. Matthew P. Buman is with the College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.

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What is already known on this subject?

  • The age-associated decline in lung function may be modifiable.
  • Cross-sectional data indicate that sitting time and different intensities of physical activity may be associated with several outcomes among adults with and without a diagnosed respiratory disease.

What does this study add?

  • Replacing sitting time with sleep or physical activity positively affects measured lung function among adults without lung disease.
  • Replacing sleep or sitting time with strenuous or strengthening activity positively affects measured lung function among adults with asthma, COPD or airflow limitation.
  • Counselling individuals at risk for or with an existing obstructive lung disease on movement behaviours could lead to improvements in their lung function. This is a finding that has implications for clinical practice.

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