Characteristics of the Physical Activity of Patients with Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria

Abstract

[Purpose] Physical activity is an important parameter of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but it has not been studied in detail in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). This study aimed to evaluate the physical activity of patients with NTM. [Subjects and Methods] The numbers of steps of 13 stable female NTM patients and 10 stable male COPD patients were monitored using an accelerometer for 2 weeks, and the results of both groups were compared with the number of steps of healthy subjects of the same age. [Results] The average number of steps of the NTM patients was 6632 ± 2202 steps/day, with 9 (69%) patients exceeding the reference value. On the other hand, the average number of steps of the COPD patients was 3643 ± 1770 steps/day, and only one (10%) exceeded the reference value. [Conclusion] It was revealed that the amount of physical activity of the NTM patients was significantly higher than that of the COPD patients.