Using a smartphone application maintains physical activity following pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD: a randomised controlled trial

Background Evidence suggests that patients with COPD struggle to maintain improved physical activity (PA) after completing pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Smartphone applications (apps) providing a comprehensive training programme have conferred healthy benefits. This study was conducted to determine whether regular usage of an app maintains PA following PR. Methods Patients with stage II-IV COPD were enrolled in a 6-month trial following PR. After the screening period, participants were randomised into the Kaia COPD app group (intervention group (IG)) or the control group (CG). The primary outcome was PA (daily steps), measured using an activity tracker. Secondary outcomes included the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ) and the 1 min Sit-to-Stand Test (STST). Results Sixty participants completed the study. The median steps from baseline to 6 months were significantly different between the groups, in favour of the IG (-105.3, IQR -1970.1 to 2105.8, vs CG -1173.0, IQR -3813.1 to -93.8; p=0.007). CAT was significantly decreased in the IG (15.1 +/- 8.6 vs 19.7 +/- 6.4, p=0.02), whereas the CRQ subdomains for dyspnoea (4.5 +/- 1.7 vs 3.7 +/- 1.3, p=0.033) and fatigue (4.5 +/- 1.4 vs 3.5 +/- 1.3, p=0.028) improved significantly in the IG. The STST at 6 months was not significant. Sleep duration and sleep efficiency showed no significant differences between the two groups at any time. Conclusions A comprehensive program by using the Kaia app following PR maintained PA and improved symptoms in patients with COPD at 6 months. The app might be an important accessory tool for enhanced COPD care.