A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, has concluded that regular walking benefits individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), even if they live in areas with poor air quality. The research, published in ERJ Open Research, associates every 1,000 daily steps with an approximate 5% reduction in the likelihood of experiencing exacerbations.
COPD is a common and long-term lung disease. Although incurable, regular physical activity, such as walking, can help manage symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Until now, it was unclear whether recommending walking to COPD patients residing in areas with high levels of air pollution was advisable.
The study involved 262 individuals with COPD from five European countries: the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, and Greece. Participants wore a motion sensor for seven days to record their steps, walking time, and speed. Concurrently, air pollution levels (PM₂,₅, black carbon, NO₂, and O₃) at their homes were estimated for the preceding two years.
The findings indicate that regular walking is associated with fewer exacerbations, irrespective of the pollution levels. A faster walking pace, exceeding one meter per second, was linked to even greater benefits. Researchers observed no differences based on COPD severity, even though the assessed pollution concentrations were higher than WHO recommendations.
“"The main message of our study is not that we should stop worrying about air pollution. Our results suggest that walking remains better than maintaining habitual inactivity, even for people living in relatively polluted areas. However, whenever possible, it is advisable to try to walk in areas with less pollution."
The research team acknowledges the modest sample size and plans to conduct a similar study with more participants. Marc Miravitlles, president of the European Respiratory Society, notes that the study may reassure COPD patients but emphasizes that pollution levels in other parts of the world can be much higher.
