Physical Activity Associated with Lower Rates of Hospital Readmission in Patients with Pulmonary Disease

PASADENA, Calif., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who participated in any level of moderate to vigorous physical activity had a lower risk of hospital readmission within 30 days, compared to those who were inactive, according to a study published today in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Researchers examined the electronic health records of 6,042 Kaiser Permanente patients in Southern California who were 40 years or older and who were hospitalized with COPD between Jan. 1, 2011 and Dec. 31, 2012. As part of Kaiser Permanente's clinical practice to inquire about Exercise as a Vital Sign, the patients' self-reported physical activity was documented in their electronic health record during routine clinical visits, along with other vital signs such as blood pressure.

Patient data was then categorized into three physical activity groups: inactive, insufficiently active and active. Researchers found that patients with COPD who exercised 150 minutes a week or more had a 34 percent lower risk of readmission within 30 days, compared to those who were inactive. Patients who reported less than 150 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity still had a 33 percent lower risk of 30-day readmission, compared to those who did not exercise at all.

"The results of this study are groundbreaking because measures of physical activity were derived from routine clinical care, instead of lengthy physical activity surveys or activity devices in smaller research samples," said the study's lead author, Huong Nguyen, PhD, RN, of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation. "Previous research has only analyzed the relationship between physical inactivity and increased mortality rate and hospitalizations, but not 30-day readmissions in patients with COPD."

The patient base in this study was ethnically diverse; the group of patients analyzed were 68 percent white, 15 percent black, 12 percent Hispanic, and 4 percent Asian/Pacific Islander. The number of men and women in the study was also similar to the overall COPD patient population.

"Many health care systems are currently focused on providing interventions at or soon after hospital discharge to reduce readmissions," Nguyen said. "This study is novel in that we were able to capture information about patients' usual physical activity well before the initial hospitalization and it provides evidence that supports the promotion of physical activity across the COPD care continuum. Our findings suggest that regular physical activity could buffer the stresses of hospitalization. Future studies will focus on determining whether we can reduce hospitalizations by improving physical activity in patients with COPD."

According to a 2013 joint statement by the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society, exercise training, as part of pulmonary rehabilitation, has demonstrated improvement in quality of life in COPD patients. The two groups developed a set of physical activity training guidelines, which state that exercising three to five times a week will help improve COPD symptoms, physical functioning and quality of life.

In 2009, Kaiser Permanente became one of the first health care organizations to systemically log patients' physical activity in their electronic health records. As part of clinical practice, patients are asked about their level of physical activity during routine outpatient visits and their responses documented in their electronic health record. A Kaiser Permanente study in October 2012 found that the initiative was successful in compiling accurate and valuable information that can help clinicians better treat and counsel patients about their behavior and lifestyles. A December 2013 study found that asking patients about their physical activity habits resulted in weight loss in overweight patients and improved glucose control in patients with diabetes.

Other authors of the paper include: Lynna Chu, MS, Amy Liu, MS, Janet S. Lee, MS, Karen Coleman, PhD, Anny H. Xiang, PhD, and Michael K. Gould, MD, MS, of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Department of Research & Evaluation; Smita Desai, DO, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center; David Suh, MD, Kaiser Permanente Southern West Los Angeles Medical Center; Brian Korotzer, MD, Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center; and George Yuen, MD, Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center.

About the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation
The Department of Research & Evaluation conducts high-quality, innovative research into disease etiology, prevention, treatment and care delivery. Investigators conduct epidemiology, health sciences and behavioral research as well as clinical trials. Areas of interest include diabetes and obesity, cancer, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, aging and cognition, pregnancy outcomes, women's and children's health, quality and safety, and pharmacoepidemiology. Located in Pasadena, Calif., the department focuses on translating research to practice quickly to benefit the health and lives of Kaiser Permanente Southern California members and the general population. Visit kp.org/research.

About Kaiser Permanente 
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve approximately 9.1 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to kp.org/share.

For more information:
Samantha Purzak, [email protected], 202-585-2603
Sandra Hernandez-Millett, [email protected], 626.405.5384

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SOURCE Kaiser Permanente