Objective To explore the current status of exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their correlation.

Methods A cross-sectional survey method was used to investigate 154 COPD patients. The 6-minute walk test (6 MWD) was used to assess the exercise ability of the patients. The general data questionnaire and St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) were used to investigate and analyzed by SPSS 22.0 software statistically.

Results The 6 MWD of the patient was (379.65±121.05) m; the SGRQ questionnaire score was (42.12±17.54) points; the 6 MWD was negatively correlated with the SGRQ score, and the difference was statistically significant (r=-0.422, P < 0.001); univariate analysis showed that the patient's age, body mass index (BMI), smoking index, disease severity, and 6 MWD had an impact on quality of life; the results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that 6 MWD, advanced age and smoking index and BMI were the influencing factors of patients' quality of life.

Conclusion The quality of life and exercise capacity of patients with COPD are at a low level. Quality of life is significantly related to exercise ability, age and BMI.