Association of physical activity with lung function in lung-healthy German adults: Results from the KORA FF4 study

Abstract

Background: In lung disease, physical activity (PA) yields beneficial health effects, but its association with the function of healthy lungs has rarely been studied. We investigated the association of accelerometer-based PA with spirometric indices, maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (PI max ) and lung diffusion capacity in lung-healthy adults. Methods: In total, 341 apparently lung-healthy participants from the population-based KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) FF4 cohort study (45% male, aged 48-68 years, 47% never smokers) completed lung function testing and wore ActiGraph accelerometers over a one week period at the hip. In adjusted regression analyses, moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was characterized as: sex-specific activity quartiles, achieving ≥10 consecutive minutes (yes vs. no), and meeting the WHO PA recommendations (yes vs. no). Results: Positive associations of MVPA-quartiles with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ), forced vital capacity (FVC), and corresponding Global Lung Function Initiative z-scores were found. Subjects in the most active quartile (>47 or >50 min/day for females and males, respectively) had 142 ml [95% CI: 23, 260] higher FEV 1 and 155 ml [95% CI: 10, 301] higher FVC than those in the least active quartile (<17 or <21 min/day for females and males, respectively); however these associations were stronger among ex-/current smokers. Achieving at least once 10 consecutive minutes of MVPA was only associated with higher PI max [β-estimate: 0.57 kPa; 95% CI: 0.04, 1.10], remaining significant among never smokers. No associations were found with diffusion capacity or for reaching the WHO-recommended 150 min of MVPA/week in 10-min bouts. Conclusions: Although the effects were small, active subjects showed higher spirometric results. The observed associations were more pronounced among ever smokers suggesting a higher benefit of PA for subjects being at a higher risk for chronic lung diseases.