We aimed to investigate physical activity using an activity monitor (DynaPort; McRoberts; the Hague, the Netherlands), pulmonary function, muscle force, 6-min walking distance, and arterial blood gas levels in 17 patients (mean age, 69 +/- 9 years [+/- SD]; body mass index, 24 +/- 5 kg/m(2)) at the beginning and end of a hospitalization period for an AE and 1 month after discharge.