People with COPD can reduce their risk of dying if they undertake even moderate exercise, a new study has found.

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is an umbrella term for a number of chronic lung disorders, including bronchitis and emphysema. It is a progressive, disabling condition caused by a narrowing of the airways. Smoking is the main cause. An estimated 380,000 people in Ireland are affected.

People with the disease may have to be hospitalised if their symptoms suddenly worsen. Once a person has been hospitalised with COPD, the chance of them being rehospitalised or dying of the condition rises considerably, therefore it is important that healthcare professionals can identify patients who are at an increased risk of being readmitted.

US researchers assessed the health records of almost 2,400 patients who had been hospitalised because of their COPD. Their physical activity levels were also assessed.

The study found that those who were physically active had a 47% reduced risk of dying in the 12 months following their hospitalisation, compared to those who were inactive.

It also noted that even those who were active, but at insufficient levels, had a 28% reduced risk of death, compared to those who were inactive.

The researchers believe that monitoring COPD patients' levels of physical activity could help doctors to identify and treat those who have a higher risk of death following hospitalisation.

"We know that physical activity can have a positive benefit for people with COPD and these findings confirm that it may reduce the risk of dying following hospitalisation for an acute exacerbation.

"The results also demonstrate the importance of routinely assessing physical activity in clinical care to identify high-risk patients as part of a larger strategy to promote physical activity in this highly sedentary population," commented the study's lead author, Dr Marilyn Moy, of Harvard Medical School.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, ERJ Open Research.