Factors Associated With Regular Exercise Participation in Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Ja Yun Choi, Sola Cho, Su Yeon Lim et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined factors associated with regular exercise participation among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The authors searched international and Korean databases for studies published from 2013 to 2024 and included 22 studies; 21 were rated high quality and one moderate quality. Exercise participation was associated with motivation (r = 0.15, p = .035), symptoms (r = -0.14, p = .015), educational level (r = 0.13, p = .003), pulmonary function (r = 0.09, p = .049), and social support (r = 0.05, p = .040).
Key findings
- Motivation had a positive association with exercise participation (r = 0.15, p = .035).
- Symptoms were negatively associated with exercise participation (r = -0.14, p = .015); heterogeneity was significant (I2 = 89.3%, p < .001).
- Educational level (r = 0.13, p = .003), pulmonary function (r = 0.09, p = .049), and social support (r = 0.05, p = .040) were positively associated with participation.
Why it matters
Exercise participation in COPD appears related to more than clinical status alone: motivation, education, and social support were also associated with engagement. Recognising this range of correlates may help inform approaches to supporting sustained exercise, while the modest associations and symptom-related heterogeneity underscore that participation is multifactorial.
What to keep in mind
The review reports significant heterogeneity for the association between symptoms and exercise participation (I2 = 89.3%, p < .001), indicating variability across the contributing studies.