Depression Symptoms and Physical Activity in Veterans With COPD: Insights From a Web-Based, Pedometer-Mediated Physical Activity Intervention.

Background: Depression is known to limit physical activity (PA) among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, whether and how depression influences the effectiveness of PA interventions is unknown.

Purpose: The study examined the association between baseline depression symptoms and change in daily step count and whether group assignment to a web-based, pedometer-mediated PA intervention moderated the association between baseline depression symptoms and change in daily step count.

Methods: Secondary analysis included two cohorts of U.S. Veterans with COPD (n = 212; 97% male; mean age 69 ± 8 years) assessed at baseline and 3 months. Cohorts 1 and 2 were randomly assigned to the same PA intervention (n = 111) or a control group (n = 101). Multivariate regressions tested the main effects of baseline depression symptoms (BDI-II total and cognitive-affective and somatic subscales) on change in daily steps, as well as the interaction between baseline BDI-II and subscales and group assignment on change in daily steps.

Results: Greater BDI-II total score (B = -31.8, SE = 14.48, p = .030) and somatic subscale scores (B = -99.82, SE = 35.76, p = .006) were associated with less improvement in daily step count. There was a significant interaction between baseline cognitive-affective subscale and the intervention predicting change in daily step count (B = -88.56, SE = 42.31, p = .038). When cognitive-affective subscale scores were ≥1 SD above the mean, the intervention was no longer associated with an increase in daily step count (p = .585).

Conclusions: Depression should be routinely assessed and targeted as part of PA promotion efforts.