Research suggests regular walking is good for people with COPD, even in areas with higher air pollution

A recent study published in ERJ Open Research indicates that regular walking can benefit individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), even in areas with higher levels of air pollution. COPD, a common long-term lung condition, cannot be cured but can be managed through physical activity, such as walking. Previously, doctors were hesitant to recommend walking for COPD patients living in polluted areas due to concerns about increased respiratory symptoms.

The research, led by Dr. Alícia Josa-Culleré and Professor Judith Garcia-Aymerich from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in Spain, aimed to address this concern. The study involved 262 COPD patients from five European countries - the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, and Greece. Participants wore movement sensors for seven days to track their daily steps, walking duration, and pace.

Air pollution levels, including particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone, were recorded at each participant's home address over the two years prior to the study. Participants also kept diaries of flare-ups and provided medical records over two years to track COPD exacerbations.

The findings revealed that regular walking, even in areas with high air pollution, was associated with a lower likelihood of exacerbations. Specifically, walking 1,000 steps per day reduced the risk of flare-ups by around 5%. Additionally, walking at a faster pace than the participants' average speed of 1 meter per second (3.3 feet per second) increased the benefits of walking.

The researchers noted that these effects were consistent across different severities of COPD and were not dependent on the level of air pollution in the participants' homes. However, they emphasized that the study's size was modest, and further research is needed to confirm these results, especially in areas with extremely high pollution levels.