Daily Objective Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Adults with COPD Using Spirometry Data from Canadian Measures Health Survey

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is expected to be the third leading cause of premature death and disability in Canada and around the world by the year 2020. The study aims to compare objective physical activity (PA) and sedentary time in a population-based sample of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and compare a group, and to investigate whether these behaviors differ according to COPD severity. From the 2007–2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey dataset, accelerometer and prebronchodilator spirometry data were available for 6441 participants, aged 35 to 79. Two weighted analyses of covariance were performed with adjustments for age, sex, body mass index, accelerometer wearing time, season, work, smoking (cotinine), education level, and income. A set of sensitivity analyses were carried out to examine the possible effect of COPD and type of control group. A cross-sectional weighted analysis indicated that 14.6% of study participants had a measured airflow obstruction consistent with COPD. Time in PA (moderate-vigorous and light PA), number of steps, and sedentary duration were not significantly different in participants with COPD, taken together, compared to controls. However, moderate to severe COPD participants (stages ≥2) had a significantly lower daily time spent in PA of moderate and vigorous intensity level compared to controls. Canadian adults with COPD with all disease severity levels combined did not show lower daily duration of light, moderate, and vigorous PA, and number of steps and higher daily sedentary time than those without airflow obstruction. Both groups are extremely sedentary and have low PA duration. Thus, “move more and sit less” public health strategy could equally target adults with or without COPD

Differences in daily objective physical activity and sedentary time between women with self-reported fibromyalgia and controls: results from the Canadian health measures survey

Introduction Physical activity and sedentary behaviors are important modifiable factors that influence health and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia. The purpose of this study was to compare objectively assessed physical activity and sedentary time in women self-reporting fibromyalgia with a control group. Method Data were drawn from the Canadian Health Measures Survey cycle 1, 2 and 3 conducted by Statistics Canada. We included women aged 18 to 79 years with complete accelerometer data. We performed one-way analyses of covariance (adjusted-for socio-demographic and health factors) to determine mean differences in physical activity and sedentary variables (minutes per day of moderate and vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, sedentary and daily steps) between women with and without fibromyalgia. Results In total, 4132 participants were included. A cross-sectional weighted analysis indicated that 3,1% of participants self-reported a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Participants with fibromyalgia spent less time than controls engaged in moderate and vigorous physical activity (M = 19.2 min/d (SE=0.7) vs M = 9.1 min/d (SE=1.2), p = 0.03, η2= 0.01). No significant differences were found for daily time spent in light physical activity, sedentary activities and number of steps. Conclusion Women participants with self-reported fibromyalgia spent significantly less time in moderate and vigorous physical activity than control. Physical activity promotion interventions for women with self-reported fibromyalgia should, as a priority, target physical activities with moderate to vigorous intensity