CHEST® Resource Center

ZuWallack - Figure 44

Physical Activity and Exercise Capacity are Independent Predictors of Mortality

FIG. 44:  Finally, it appears that reduction in physical activity is independent of reduction in exercise capacity as a predictor of mortality.  This Figure references data from a study that looked at a multivariate model predicting mortality in patients with COPD.[34]  The model found that comorbidities, exercise endurance time, and vector magnitude units (VMU), a marker for physical activity, were all significant of predictors of subsequent survival.  Physical activity was at least as significant as the other factors in predicting survival, so it is not only exercise capacity, but physical activity plus exercise capacity plus other factors that predict survival in this disease.

ZuWallack R. Chest 2016; 00.

References

[34]

Garcia-Rio F, Rojo B, Casitas R, et al. Prognostic value of the objective measurement of daily physical activity in patients with COPD. Chest. 2012;142:338–346.