Physical activity and lung function association in a healthy community-dwelling European population

Sybile Collaud; Brice Touilloux; Christophe von Garnier; Pedro Marques-Vidal; Vanessa Kraege

doi:10.1186/s12890-024-02979-x

Physical activity and lung function association in a healthy community-dwelling European population

BMC Pulm Med. 2024 Apr 8;24(1):169. doi: 10.1186/s12890-024-02979-x.

Authors

Sybile Collaud¹, Brice Touilloux^{2

3}, Christophe von Garnier³, Pedro Marques-Vidal¹, Vanessa Kraege^{4

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
² Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine and Specialties, Fribourg Hospital and University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
³ Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. vanessa.kraege@chuv.ch.
⁵ Medical Directorate, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. vanessa.kraege@chuv.ch.
⁶ Innovation and Clinical Research Directorate, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. vanessa.kraege@chuv.ch.

Abstract

Background: The association of physical activity (PA) and lung function (LF) varies from no measurable effect to delayed LF decline. We assessed the association between accelerometery-assessed PA and LF in a sample of apparently healthy, community-dwelling subjects.

Methods: We included two cross-sectional studies using data from the PneumoLaus study (2014-17 and 2018-21), conducted in Lausanne, Switzerland. PA was assessed by accelerometry and categorised as inactivity, light, moderate or vigorous. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁), forced volume capacity (FVC) and maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) were measured by spirometry and expressed in percentage of predicted value (PV).

Results: Overall, 1'910 (54.7% women, 62.0 ± 9.7 years) and 1'174 (53.4% women, 65.8 ± 9.5 years) participants were included in the first and the second surveys, respectively. In both surveys, moderate and vigorous PA showed a weak but significant correlation with FEV₁ in percentage (PV) (R = 0.106 and 0.132 for the first and 0.111 and 0.125 for the second surveys, p < 0.001). Similar correlations with FVC (p < 0.001) were found. Associations held irrespective of smoking status and remained after multivariable adjustment. Fewer associations were detected between LF and light PA or between MMEF and PA.

Conclusion: Moderate and vigorous intensity PA are associated with increased LF regardless of smoking status in apparently healthy community-dwelling European population. These associations are statistically but not clinically significant due to the small correlation coefficients (R < 0.30), corresponding to a weak association.

Keywords: Accelerometry; Epidemiology; Exercise; Independent living; Respiratory function tests; Spirometry.

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise
Female
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Independent Living*
Lung*
Male
Spirometry
Vital Capacity