Physical activity pattern of patients with interstitial lung disease compared to patients with COPD: A propensity-matched study

Physical activity (PA) is reduced in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Evidence about the PA pattern of patients with ILD is scarce. If PA of patients with ILD would be comparable to COPD, it is tempting to speculate that existing interventions focusing on enhancing PA could be as effective in ILD as already shown in COPD. Therefore, we aimed to compare PA and the correlates with PA in matched patients with ILD, COPD, and healthy subjects. Patients with ILD (n = 45), COPD (n = 45) and healthy subjects (n = 30) were propensity matched. PA level, pattern, and PA correlations with lung function and physical performance (6-minute walking distance and quadriceps force) were compared between groups. Daily number of steps was similar in both patient groups (mean±SE: 5631±459 for ILD, 5544±547 for COPD, p = 0.900), but significantly lower compared to healthy subjects (10031±536, p