The role of neighbourhood-level sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics on the physical activity of people with COPD

Background Physical activity is crucial in slowing COPD progression and reducing mortality, yet the influence of the neighbourhood’s sociodemographic and socioeconomic environment on it remains unexplored. Our aim is to assess the relationship between these neighbourhood characteristics and physical activity in people with COPD. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from 407 COPD participants from primary care and hospitals of five Catalan municipalities. We obtained neighbourhood percentages of sociodemographic (older adults and non-EU15 immigrants) and socioeconomic (illiteracy, unemployment and households in poor-conditioned buildings) characteristics from the Spanish Urban Vulnerability Atlas. Over 1 week, we tracked steps per day, time spent in physical activity of any intensity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time using an activity monitor Results After adjusting for age, sex, marital status, social class, road traffic noise levels and PM_2.5 in multivariable linear regression models, each 10% increase in the neighbourhood percentage of older adults was associated with 922 (95% CI: 84–1759) more steps per day and 11 (1 to 20) more minutes per day in MVPA. Each 10% increase in the neighbourhood percentage of non-EU15 immigrants was associated with fewer steps per day (−332; 95% CI: −647 to −16), fewer minutes per day in physical activity of any intensity (−5; 95% CI: −11 to 0) and fewer minutes per day in MVPA (−5; 95% CI: −7 to 0). No associations were found between neighbourhood socioeconomic characteristics and physical activity. Conclusion A neighbourhood’s percentages of older adults and non-EU15 immigrants are associated with physical activity of COPD patients.