Effects of 3-week Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Exercise Capacity, Dyspnea, and Quality of Life in COPD

The effects of intensive 3-week outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on exercise capacity, dyspnea, and health-related quality of life (HRQL) were investigated in patients with COPD. Two hundred ten patients with COPD (mean FEV₁ = 54%pred) underwent PR consisting of exercise training, patient and psychosocial education, breathing and relaxation therapy, nutrition counseling, and smoking cessation support. Before and after PR, exercise capacity was assessed with 6-min walking tests (6MWT) and constant cycle ergometer exercise (CEE). Dyspnea was measured after 6MWTs with a Borg scale and after PR with the Transition Dyspnoea Index (TDI). HRQL was examined with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36). Results showed improvements in the 6MWT (+39 m, p < 0.001) and CEE (+241 W × min, p < 0.001) after PR, paralleled by decreased dyspnea during the 6MWT (−0.5, p < 0.001) and during activities (TDI score = 3.6). Increases in all SF-36 subscales reflected improved HRQL after PR (p < 0.001). No gender differences were found. Patients with milder versus more severe COPD improved similarly in most outcomes. Regression analyses revealed that TDI scores were the most important predictor of improvements in HRQL. The results suggest that intensive 3-week outpatient PR is associated with improvements in exercise capacity, dyspnea, and HRQL in male and female patients with COPD irrespective of COPD severity. Reduced dyspnea during activities contributed the most to improvements in HRQL.     

Effects of Pulmonary Hypertension on Exercise Capacity in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

IntroductionThe impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on exercise tolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been fully elucidated. It is necessary to characterize pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with moderate to severe COPD in order to improve their management. The aim of the study was to determine whether in COPD the presence of PH is associated with reduced exercise tolerance in a cohort of stable COPD patients.MethodsCross-sectional analysis of 174 COPD patients clinically stable: 109 without PH and 65 with PH (COPD-PH). We assessed socio-demographic data, lung function, quality of life, dyspnea, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), constant workload endurance time (CWET), and six-minute walk test (6MWT). We elaborated a logistic regression model to explore the impact of PH on exercise capacity in COPD patients.ResultsCOPD-PH patients showed lower exercise capacity both at maximal (CPET) (43(20) versus 68(27) Watts and 50(19)% versus 71(18)% predicted peak oxygen consumption (VO₂peak), COPD-PH and COPD, respectively), and at submaximal tests (6MWT) (382(94) versus 486(95) m). In addition, the COPD-PH group had lower endurance time than the non-PH COPD group (265(113) s and 295(164) s, respectively).ConclusionsThe presence of PH is an independent factor that impairs exercise capacity in COPD.     

慢性栓塞性肺动脉高压的误诊分析

目的：为提高对慢性栓塞性肺动脉高压（CTEPH）的认识和诊断。方法：回顾性分析72例慢性栓塞性肺动脉高压患者中,65例在院外被误诊为其它心肺疾病的临床资料。结果：院外误诊率为90．28％,共误诊97例次（有的患者曾误诊多种疾病）,误诊的情况为原发性肺动脉高压22例次（22．68％）、冠心病18例次（18．56％）、先天性心脏病16例次（16．49％）、心肌炎10例次（10．31％）、心肌病9例次（9．28％）、风湿性心脏病5例次（5．15％）、心包炎2例次（2．06％）及肺部疾病15例次（15．46％）。结论：CTEPH误诊率极高,临床医师应提高对CTEPH的认识,减少误诊。     

Comparison of Two Different Levels of Physical Training in Patients with Moderate to Severe COPD

Our objective was to compare the effect of a 4−week homebased low and middle intensity and frequency training program in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. From 124 patients hospitalized with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) in an 18-month period 65 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were invited to participate. Only 31 (48%) accepted and among these only 20 patients (31% of invited) completed the 4-week study period. The walking time in seconds in a standardized treadmill walking test was unchanged after 4 weeks of low intensity training 60 minutes per week for two weekly training sessions. In contrast, the walking time in seconds increased 55% (p < 0.001) from 321 seconds to 499 seconds in 9 patients who completed 4 weeks of middle intensity training which comprised 21/2 hours of training per week for 5 weekly training sessions. There was no change in lung function over the 4 weeks but the combined score for physical quality of life (physical component summary) measured by SF-36 increased (p < 0.05) with both low intensity and middle intensity physical training. In conclusion, homebased physical training, which aims at improvements in patient performance and quality of life as part of pulmonary rehabilitation programs, is only accepted by about one-third of unselected patients with moderate to severe COPD. The minimum training time necessary to improve physical performance is 2–3 hours per week of middle intensity training.     

Rehabilitation Program in Adult Congenital Heart Disease Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension

Introduction. It is commonly believed that physical activity may have a negative impact on pulmonary hypertension patients. The object of this study is to determine the tolerability of a directed exercise program in congenital heart disease patients with pulmonary hypertension. Methods. Eight congenital heart disease patients with pulmonary hypertension were studied and followed up during a 1-year period. Four of them were enrolled in a 3-month rehabilitation program. Results. No significant changes in analytical data, hand and leg strength, or quality of life were seen at the end of the training program in rehabilitation and nonrehabilitation patients. However, patients in the rehabilitation group improved 6 minutes' walk test minimum hemoglobin oxygen saturation and functional class after ending the training program without having adverse events such as progression of symptoms or heart failure. Conclusions. Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation appears to be a safe intervention in patients with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension.     

The Beneficial Effect of Regular Endurance Exercise Training on Blood Pressure and Quality of Life in Patients with Hypertension

Regular aerobic exercise can reduce blood pressure and is recommended as part of the lifestyle modification to reduce high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Hypertension itself, or/and pharmacological treatment for hypertension is associated with adverse effects on some aspects of quality of life. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of regular endurance exercise training on quality of life and blood pressure. Patients with mild to moderate hypertension (systolic blood pressure 140–180 or diastolic blood pressure 90–110 mm Hg) were randomized to a moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise group training for 3 sessions/week over 10 weeks or to a non‐exercising control group. Health‐related quality of life was assessed with the Short Form 36‐item Health Survey (SF‐36) at baseline and after 6 and 10 weeks. In the 102 subjects (47 male, mean age 47 years) who completed the study, reductions in blood pressure in the exercise group at 10 weeks (? 13.1/? 6.3 mm Hg) were significant (P < 0.001) compared to baseline and to the control group (? 1.5/+ 6.0 mm Hg). Unlike the control group, the exercise group showed an increase in exercise capacity from 8.2 ± 1.6 to 10.8 ± 2.2 METS (P < 0.01) and showed higher scores on 7 out of 8 subscales (P < 0.05) of the SF‐36. Improvement in bodily pain and general health sub‐scores correlated with reduction in systolic blood pressure. Regular endurance training improves both blood pressure and quality of life in hypertensive patients and should be encouraged more widely.     

Exercise as a multi-modal disease-modifying medicine in systemic sclerosis: An introduction by The Global Fellowship on Rehabilitation and Exercise in Systemic Sclerosis (G-FoRSS)

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a heterogeneous multisystem autoimmune disease whereby its main pathological drivers of disability and damage are vascular injury, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrosis. These mechanisms result in diffuse and diverse impairments arising from ischemic circulatory dysfunction leading to painful skin ulceration and calcinosis, neurovascular aberrations hindering gastrointestinal (GI) motility, progressive painful, incapacitating or immobilizing effects of inflammatory and fibrotic effects on the lungs, skin, articular and periarticular structures, and muscle. SSc-related impairments impede routine activities of daily living (ADLs) and disrupt three critical life areas: work, family, social/leisure, and also impact on psychological well-being.Physical activity and exercise are globally recommended; however, for connective tissue diseases, this guidance carries greater impact on inflammatory disease manifestations, recovery, and cardiovascular health. Exercise, through myogenic and vascular phenomena, naturally targets key pathogenic drivers by downregulating multiple inflammatory and fibrotic pathways in serum and tissue, while increasing circulation and vascular repair.G-FoRSS, The Global Fellowship on Rehabilitation and Exercise in Systemic Sclerosis recognizes the scientific basis of and advocates for education and research of exercise as a systemic and targeted SSc disease-modifying treatment. An overview of biophysiological mechanisms of physical activity and exercise are herein imparted for patients, clinicians, and researchers, and applied to SSc disease mechanisms, manifestations, and impairment. A preliminary guidance on exercise in SSc, a research agenda, and the current state of research and outcome measures are set forth.