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The objective of the article is to identify clusters of patients with COPD according to factors known to be associated with mortality and to verify whether clusters’ assignment is associated with 2-year mortality. Patients (n = 141) were evaluated by bioelectrical impedance, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), one-repetition maximum test of the quadriceps femoris (1RMQF) and BODE index (body mass index; airflow obstruction (spirometry); dyspnea (modified Medical Research Council scale); and exercise capacity (6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance). Vital status was retrospectively checked 2 years after the assessments, and time to death was quantified for those deceased in this period. K-means analysis identified two clusters. Patients in cluster one (CL I, n = 69) presented an impaired clinical status in comparison to cluster two (CL II, n = 72). Receiver operating characteristics curves identified the cutoffs discriminating patients composing CL I: forced expiratory volume in the first second <44%pred; 6MWT <479 m; 1RMQF <19 kg; and maximum inspiratory pressures <73 cmH2O (area under the curve range 0.750–0.857). During the follow-up, 19 (13%) patients deceased, 15 in CL I (22%) and 4 in CL II (0.06%) (p = 0.005). CL I was associated with a higher risk of 2-year mortality (hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 4.3 (1.40–12.9), p = 0.01). A cluster of patients with COPD highly associated with 2-year mortality was statistically identified, and cutoffs to identify these subjects were provided.

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Background The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is widely used to assess PA and has already been used in adults with asthma; however, its validity has not been yet studied in this population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the convergent and discriminative validity of the IPAQ short form in adults with asthma. Methods Fifty-three adults with asthma (36 females; 48±15 years; 29±6 kg/m²) wore the triaxial activity monitor Actigraph for eight days to objectively measure steps/day, time in light physical activity (PA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and sedentary behaviour. Participants filled out the IPAQ matching with the same week they wore the Actigraph, with measures of: time of MVPA and total PA/week; categorization of low, moderate or high PA level; time in seated position. Results IPAQ self-reported total time of PA/week was weakly correlated with steps/day. The IPAQ categorization correlated moderately with time in light, MVPA and steps/day. Self-reported time in seated position on weekdays was moderately correlated with objective percentage/day of time in sedentary behaviour in the same period. IPAQ categorization in PA levels was able to differentiate between low to moderate and low to high PA levels. Conclusions These results cannot confidently infer the convergent validity of the IPAQ to quantify number of steps/day and time spent in PA of adults with asthma. However, this instrument may be useful to categorize patients into three levels of PA.

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The use of illicit substances can lead to several changes in physical and mental health, which can directly reflect on functional capacity and quality of life. However, there is a lack in the literature on the comparison of these variables between drug addicts and healthy individuals. To compare lung function, functional exercise capacity and quality of life of chemical dependents in rehabilitation process (CDRP) and apparently healthy individuals (AHI). Cross-sectional study that evaluated two groups (CDRP and AHI) matched by gender, age and BMI. Both groups were assessed for lung function (spirometry), quality of life (Short Form 36 questionnaire - SF-36), functional exercise capacity (6-minute walk test - 6MWT, 4-meter gait speed, Timed-up-and-go, Sit-to-Stand and Short Physical Performance Battery). Fifteen men in the CDRP group (31[26-39] years; BMI 23±3 kg/m2) and fifteen men in the AHI group (30[22-34] years; BMI 24±3 kg/m2) were analyzed. The CDRP group had a shorter distance covered in the 6MWT in meters (P=0.0002) and percentage of predicted (P=0.005). There was no difference in the performance of the other functional tests (P≥0.20) and in the pulmonary function (P≥0.46). The CDRP group had worse results in the functional capacity, pain, social aspects and mental health domains of SF-36 (P≤0.04), while in the domains general status, vitality, emotional and physical aspects there was no difference (P≥0.08). CDRP present similar lung function to AHI. However, the first have impaired functional exercise capacity, as well as some aspects of quality of life. Keywords: Drug Users. Motor Activity. Spirometry. Walk Test. Quality of Life. ResumoO uso de substâncias ilícitas pode levar a diversas alterações da saúde física e mental, o que pode refletir diretamente na capacidade funcional e na qualidade de vida. Porém, há uma escassez na literatura sobre a comparação dessas variáveis entre dependentes químicos e indivíduos saudáveis. Comparar função pulmonar, capacidade funcional de exercício e qualidade de vida de dependentes químicos em processo de reabilitação (DQPR) e indivíduos aparentemente saudáveis (AS). Estudo transversal que avaliou dois grupos (DQPR e AS) pareados por gênero, idade e IMC. Ambos os grupos foram avaliados quanto à função pulmonar (espirometria), qualidade de vida (questionário Short Form 36 – SF-36), capacidade funcional de exercício (Teste de Caminhada de 6 minutos - TC6, 4-metre gait speed, Timed-up-and-go, Sit-to-Stand e Short Physical Performace Battery). Foram analisados 15 homens no grupo DQPR (31[26-39] anos; IMC 23±3 kg/m2) e 15 homens no grupo AS (30[22-34] anos; IMC 24±3 kg/m2). O grupo DQPR apresentou uma menor distância percorrida no TC6 em metros (P=0,0002) e porcentagem do predito (P=0,005). Não houve diferença no desempenho dos demais testes funcionais (P≥0,20) e na função pulmonar (P≥0,46). O grupo DQPR apresentou piores resultados nos domínios capacidade funcional, dor, aspectos sociais e saúde mental do SF-36 (P≤0,04), enquanto que nos domínios estado geral, vitalidade, aspectos emocionais e físicos não houve diferença (P≥0,08). Homens dependentes químicos em processo de reabilitação apresentam função pulmonar semelhante a indivíduos aparentemente saudáveis. Entretanto, apresentam capacidade funcional de exercício prejudicada, assim como alguns aspectos da qualidade de vida. Palavras-chave: Usuários de Drogas. Atividade Motora. Espirometria. Teste de Caminhada. Qualidade de Vida.

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