Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has periods of stability and exacerbations, and in exacerbated cases there is an increase in symptoms, which may lead to the need for hospitalization, resulting in greater physical inactivity and time in sedentary activities. Thus, it becomes necessary to verify behavior change in relation to the level of physical activity after COPD exacerbation.

To compare short-term symptomatology, distance covered in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and behavioral change in relation to the level of physical activity using a wearable device in patients after COPD exacerbation.

This is a longitudinal observational study, in patients after hospitalization for exacerbation of COPD. Patients were evaluated before hospital discharge and after 30 days. An anamnesis was performed, symptomatology was evaluated using the Medical Research Council questionnaires - MRC dyspnea; COPD Assessment Test™ - CAT, a 6-minute Walk Test (6MWT) was performed, and an actigraph activPALT3M accelerometer was placed in the anterior region of the middle third of the right thigh to assess the level of physical activity, which the patient used for 7 days consecutive. Data were analyzed using the SPSS program, and the dependent samples test was used to compare the two moments.

We evaluated 24 patients, 13 (54%) female and 11 (46%) male, with a mean age of 66±7.68 years, FEV1 of 42±9.12%, GOLD 3(3- 3), length of stay was 6(5-6) days, MRC 3(2-3). There was a significant difference between the moments (pre discharge and 30 days) in CAT 26(20-19) and 17(14-26) (p=0.021), 6MWT 282(214-326) and 347(289-402) (p =0.000), sitting time 1281(974-1326) and 1052(895-1270) minutes/week (p=0.007), standing time 171(129-422) and 306(160-431) minutes/week (p= 0.035), walking time 63(33-134) and 89(54-124) minutes/day (p=0.54), number of steps 2839(1331-8417) and 4755(2503-6933) steps/day (p =0.53), inactive time 1281(974-1326) and 1052(895-1270) (p=0.007) minutes/day, active time 421(305-497) and 1307(1002-1351) (p=0.000) minutes/day.

The main findings were that 30 days after hospitalization for the exacerbation of COPD, the patients showed improvement in symptoms and exercise capacity with a reduction in sedentary time, however, they still had a reduced level of physical activity.

It is of great importance to assess the symptoms and the level of physical activity of patients who were hospitalized due to exacerbation of COPD, for monitoring and better targeting in rehabilitation.