Effects of age on physiological and psychological functioning among COPD patients in an exercise program

Older adults with chronic illness may be at greater risk of psychological distress than healthy older adults. This study examined the effect of age on physiological and psychological functioning of exercising older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sixty-four older adults (mean age = 67.4 plus or minus 7.0; 35 male, 29 female) with COPD were included in the study. All subjects participated in a 30-day rehabilitation program consisting of exercise (walking, stationary bicycle, pool exercises), education, and stress management. Subjects underwent assessments of physiological functioning (e.g., bicycle ergometry,12-minute walk), cognitive status (e.g., memory, psychomotor speed, concentration), and psychological well-being (e.g., anxiety, depression, psychiatric symptoms) before and after the exercise program. Results were analyzed by repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance, with age (median split = 67.5 years) as a between-subject factor. Although the exercise program appeared to have a greater effect on physiological functioning and on concentration and short-term memory of younger-old subjects, both groups of subjects achieved gains in physiological functioning, and psychological well-being.     

Neurobehavioral improvement after brief rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

PURPOSE: Depressive symptoms, physiologic function, and cognition were examined in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after 3 weeks of rehabilitation. METHODS: Patients with COPD completed measures of depression, neuropsychological function, exercise, and spirometry before and after a 3-week rehabilitation program. The 30 rehabilitation patients with COPD were compared with 29 untreated patients with COPD and 21 healthy controls similar in age, education, and gender. RESULTS: A significant group by time interaction effect was found on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A significant interaction effect was also found on the 6-minute walk. Patients in the COPD rehabilitation program had decreased depressive symptoms and increased 6-minute walk distance compared with the untreated groups. Across the 3 groups, no significant interaction effects were found on neuropsychological tests. However, clinically significant improvement in sustained visual attention, verbal retention, and visuospatial ability were reported in the most impaired patients with COPD in the rehabilitation group. CONCLUSION: Compared with control groups, decline in depressive symptoms and increased exercise capacity occurred in patients with COPD after brief rehabilitation. Clinical improvement in visual attention, verbal memory, and visuospatial functions occurred in the impaired patients with COPD participating in treatment. Neurobehavioral improvements after such a brief rehabilitation intervention are relevant for clinical care and warrant continued investigation in well-designed clinical trials.     

Psychological outcomes of an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

STUDY/PRINCIPLES: The effects of an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program on psychological morbidity (anxiety and depressive symptoms) were examined in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: The 26 rehabilitation patients with COPD were compared with 19 control patients with COPD similar in age, gender, COPD severity and other variables. Initial assessment included lung function testing, health status, exercise tolerance, dyspnea intensity and psychiatric interviews using Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A). A pulmonary rehabilitation program was carried out during the following 2 months; psychiatric interviews and measurements of health status, exercise tolerance and dyspnea intensity were done again on completion of the study at 2 months. RESULTS: There was a decrease in HAM-A scores in the rehabilitation group and the decrease was statistically significant (P=0.010). On the contrary the HAM-A scores did not change in control group. The decrease in HAM-A scores in rehabilitation group was also statistically significant compared with the control group (P=0.042). There was no significant difference in HAM-D scores within the two groups and also there was no significant difference between the two groups in HAM-D scores. The health status, exercise tolerance and dyspnea intensity improved significantly in the rehabilitation group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: This study shows that our outpatient rehabilitation program leads to a benefit in anxiety and depressive symptoms in COPD patients. The benefit was especially significant in anxiety symptoms. In addition to the improvement in psychological symptoms, the health status, exercise tolerance and dyspnea intensity were also significantly improved in COPD patients who underwent the rehabilitation program. This outpatient-based rehabilitation program was well accepted by the patients. The relatively simple design of the program makes it feasible independently of expensive equipment.     

Improved neurobehavioral functioning in emphysema patients following lung volume reduction surgery compared with medical therapy

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to evaluate the neuropsychological and psychological functioning of emphysema patients following lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) compared with patients receiving only medical therapy (MT). DESIGN: Patients with moderate-to-severe emphysema who were enrolled in the National Emphysema Treatment Trial at two sites (National Jewish Medical and Research Center and Ohio State University) were given a neuropsychological battery at baseline, 6 to 10 weeks later (following participation in pulmonary rehabilitation), and at 6 months following randomization to either LVRS or MT treatment. SUBJECTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Twenty patients randomized to MT, 19 patients randomized to LVRS, and 39 matched, healthy control subjects completed a battery of tests that measured cognitive functioning, depression, anxiety, and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: Controlling for practice, patients in the LVRS treatment arm at the 6-month follow-up demonstrated significant improvement compared with MT patients in cognitive tasks involving sequential skills and verbal memory. The LVRS patients also showed significant reductions in depression compared with the MT patients, as well as improved physical and psychosocial QoL. Correlational analysis indicated that improved immediate verbal memory in the LVRS group was related to improved QoL. No associations were found between changes in cognitive function and changes in depression, exercise performance, or pulmonary functioning. CONCLUSION: Patients who received LVRS demonstrated improvement in specific neuropsychological functions, depression, anxiety, and QoL scores compared with patients with continued MT treatment 6 months following randomization. However, mechanisms for these neurobehavioral changes are unclear. Improved verbal memory and sequential skills following LVRS were not directly associated with depression or exercise capacity. Nonetheless, LVRS led to a strong and likely clinically significant improvement in neuropsychological functioning over and above that explained by practice effects or MT. This finding adds to the growing list of clinical benefits of LVRS over MT, and supports additional research into the underlying mechanisms of this therapeutic effect.     

Marital adjustment among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who are participating in pulmonary rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: Marital adjustment has been associated with morbidity and mortality across various chronic diseases but has been largely ignored among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the relationship among marital adjustment, quality of life, psychologic functioning, and functional capacity among married patients with COPD who are participating in a 5-week exercise rehabilitation program and their spouses. SAMPLE: A convenience sample of 31 patients with COPD and their partners was included. DESIGN: A prospective 1-group pretest-posttest study was conducted. RESULTS: Marital adjustment scores indicated that patients and partners were, on average, satisfied with their marriages. Patient marital adjustment was associated with patient psychologic well-being, whereas partner marital adjustment was associated with patient physical functioning. In addition, patient and partner perceptions of marital adjustment predicted change in patient functioning after exercise rehabilitation. Patients who entered the program with poor marital adjustment experienced a greater magnitude of improvement in mental health after rehabilitation than did well-adjusted patients. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that marital adjustment is associated with both psychologic well-being and physical functioning among patients with COPD, and that it may predict change among patients with COPD participating in exercise rehabilitation.     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期患者综合康复治疗疗效观察

目的观察慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）患者康复治疗前、后症状评分、6分钟步行试验（6MWT）及肺功能的变化。方法采用前瞻性随机对照研究,将60例COPD稳定期患者分为治疗组和对照组各30例;其中治疗组进行综合康复治疗（包括心理康复治疗、呼吸肌康复治疗、长期家庭氧疗）,康复治疗前和48周后分别测定第1秒用力肺活量（FEV1）、第1秒用力肺活量／用力肺活量（FEV1／FVC）和FEV,占正常预计值的百分比（FEV1％）及6MWT运动距离;并通过问卷调查的形式进行症状评价。结果治疗组咳嗽、咯痰及呼吸困难等症状明显改善,6MWT运动距离明显提高,与对照组比较有显著差异（P〈0．05）,但肺功能指标的改变无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论对COPD稳定期患者进行长期、综合程序康复治疗可以显著提高运动耐力,减轻临床症状。     

Improvement of Cognitive Function After a Three-Month Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for COPD Patients

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation program on cognitive function in COPD patients, adjusting for potential confounders (gender, age, tobacco consumption, and educational level). In this prospective study, 34 COPD patients were submitted to neuropsychological testing before and after a 3-month pulmonary rehabilitation program. A control group with 18 healthy subjects of similar age, sex, and educational status was used to compare the cognitive function of COPD patients and healthy subjects at baseline. The association between the rehabilitation and change on th scores of cognitive variables, adjusted for each covariate, was estimated by means of linear random-intercept regression models. At baseline, the COPD patients had worse cognitive function with regard to verbal learning, memory, subjective organization, and verbal processing in comparison to the healthy volunteers. The improvement in cognitive performance by the COPD patients was evidenced even after adjusting for the sociodemographic factors that could potentially interfere on cognitive function. Male gender and age less than 65 years old were associated to higher scores in verbal learning and memory at baseline and after the rehabilitation program. The clinical approach to COPD-induced cognitive dysfunction should include participation in pulmonary rehabilitation programs. There were gender- and age-related differences in cognitive scores that persisted after rehabilitation.     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病2种肺康复策略的疗效比较

目的:比较2种不同的肺康复干预策略对慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者BODE指数评分、焦虑抑郁及日常生活活动能力的改善及脱落率。方法:采用随机、对照的方法将155例稳定期COPD患者分为3组,肺康复干预Ⅰ组给予康复宣教、有氧呼吸操及体能训练;肺康复干预Ⅱ组仅给予康复宣教及有氧呼吸操,对照组不给予肺康复干预,为期20周。比较康复前后3组患者BODE指数、焦虑抑郁及日常生活活动能力评分及脱落的差异。结果:经过20周的肺康复干预,肺康复干预Ⅰ、Ⅱ组较对照组在焦虑抑郁评分、6 min步行距离、呼吸困难程度评分均明显改善(P<0.01),但脱落率明显高于其他2组(P     

Cognitive and psychological issues in emphysema

Various psychological and cognitive difficulties have been documented in patients with emphysema. The aim of this article is to review prior literature on the prevalence of these difficulties in emphysema, as well as identify specific studies demonstrating improvement in these areas after therapy. Traditional therapies such as continuous and intermittent oxygen therapy and comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation are reviewed. In general, these studies demonstrate reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as specific improvements in complex attention and verbal fluency. In a more recent study, patients with emphysema who underwent lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) demonstrated improved psychomotor speed, verbal memory, and naming skills at 6 months compared with patients with emphysema who were in comprehensive rehabilitation only. The patients with emphysema who had LVRS also demonstrated greater decline in depressive symptoms compared with the rehabilitation patients at 6 months. There were no associations between improved neuropsychological tests and changes in depression, exercise tests, pulmonary function, oxygenation, or quality of life scores, and thus the mechanism of behavioral improvement identified in the patients who underwent LVRS remained unclear. Overall, studies suggest that psychological and cognitive improvements occur subsequent to a variety of medical and behavioral treatment therapeutic approaches, and that LVRS appears to have an advantage for some patients with emphysema.     

Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in restrictive lung disease

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective in improving exercise endurance and quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation in restrictive lung disease has not been extensively studied. METHODS: Forty-six patients with restrictive lung disease (35 interstitial lung diseases, 11 skeletal abnormalities) were admitted to a pulmonary rehabilitation program; 26 completed the 8-week program and 15 were followed to a 1-year reassessment. Fifteen noncompliant patients were excluded and 1 patient with interstitial lung disease died at 8 weeks. Pulmonary function tests, exercise endurance, quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and dyspnea) were measured at baseline, 8 weeks, and 1 year. RESULTS: Exercise endurance (treadmill) improved at 8 weeks (mean improvement, 10.2 +/- 7.4 minutes) and at 1 year (mean improvement, 8.7 +/- 12.2 minutes). Shuttle test improved at 8 weeks (mean improvement, 27.2 +/- 75.9 m) but not at 1 year. Patients using long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) had a better improvement in the treadmill test (P < .01) at 8 weeks compared with those not using LTOT. Thirty-three percent of patients failed to complete the program. There was significant improvement in dyspnea and quality of life in Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale for depression at 8 weeks compared with baseline; there was a sustained significant reduction in hospital admission days noted at 1-year postrehabilitation (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective in improving exercise endurance and the quality of life and in reducing hospital admissions in this small group of patients with significant restrictive lung disease. The relatively large dropout number suggests that a standard chronic obstructive pulmonary disease program may not be ideal for patients with restrictive lung disease.     

COPD and exercise: what's really important? A nursing perspective

Numerous studies demonstrate the importance of exercise training to improve endurance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its positive effect on activities of daily living and quality of life. However, successful care of the individual with COPD also relies on recognizing that this person requires individualized care and non-pharmacologic modalities specific to their needs in order to cope with the various aspects of their disease. It is also important to note that improvement in quality of life is not necessarily related to improvement in exercise endurance alone. Comprehensive and effective pulmonary rehabilitation for the COPD patient needs to encompass several components to provide benefit for the spectrum of symptoms of COPD beyond exercise tolerance and dyspnea to ultimately improve quality of life.     

Anxiety and depression in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated high levels of anxiety and depression among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The effects of an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program on psychological morbidity were examined in patients with severe COPD. METHODS: Levels of anxiety and depression in 95 patients with severe COPD (FEV1 < 40% predicted) were measured on entry to an outpatient PR program using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. HAD scores were remeasured at the completion of PR (3 months) and at 6 month follow-up. The effects of PR on mean HAD scores and on the number of patients with significant anxiety or depression were determined. Improvements in exercise capacity after PR were compared in patients with high and low HAD scores. RESULTS: Of patients, 35 (29.2%) had significant anxiety at screening and 18 (15%) significant depression. PR produced statistically significant falls in mean HAD scores for anxiety and depression, both of which remained significantly lowered at 6-month follow-up. PR also reduced the number of patients with significant anxiety or depression. Patients with high anxiety levels showed significantly greater improvements in shuttle walk distance than those with low HAD scores. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of anxiety and depression were high in a significant minority of this group of patients with severe COPD and were significantly improved by PR. Patients with higher HAD scores had lower baseline shuttle walk distances than those with low HAD scores. Anxious patients showed statistically greater improvements in exercise capacity following PR.     

Anxiety and depression—Important psychological comorbidities of COPD

Anxiety and depression are common and important comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The pathophysiology of these psychological comorbidities in COPD is complex and possibly explained by common risk factors, response to symptomatology and biochemical alterations. The presence of anxiety and/or depression in COPD patients is associated with increased mortality, exacerbation rates, length of hospital stay, and decreased quality of life and functional status. There is currently no consensus on the most appropriate approach to screening for anxiety and depression in COPD. Treatment options include psychological [relaxation, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), self-management] and pharmacological interventions. Although there is some evidence to support these treatments in COPD, the data are limited and mainly comprised by small studies. Pulmonary rehabilitation improves anxiety and depression, and conversely these conditions impact rehabilitation completion rates. Additional high quality studies are urgently required to optimise screening and effective treatment of anxiety and depression in patients with COPD, to enhance complex chronic disease management for these patients.     

A pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients with asthma and mild chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD)

The effects of a pulmonary rehabilitation program on 44 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were compared to a control group. The treated group was admitted to the program for a period of three months. The program consisted of several parts, such as physical training, health education, and psychological and social matters. Before participation, the patients were thoroughly examined and provided with optimal medical treatment. Both groups were assessed by means of biometrical tests and questionnaires for a period of 2 years. The rehabilitation group improved significantly in endurance, psychological parameters, and consumption of medical care. Working days increased and their way of life became more active. Smoking habits and body fat percentage decreased. Bronchial hyperreactivity, need for pulmonary drugs, and coughing and sputum production did not improve in the rehabilitation group compared to the control group. Airway obstruction, expressed as forced expiratory volume in one second, and complaints of dyspnea, allergy and hyperreactivity scores on questionnaires improved only in the short term (<1 year), but did not improve significantly in the long term. This study shows that pulmonary rehabilitation can result in improvements in patients with asthma or COPD who have many complaints despite the fact that their pulmonary function is not severely disturbed.     

Comparison of isocapnic hyperventilation and walking exercise training at home in pulmonary rehabilitation

Eighteen COPD patients enrolled in a comprehensive, multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation program were randomly assigned to perform either: 1) walking, or 2) ventilatory muscle exercise training (VMT) using a prototype, portable device for isocapnic hyperventilation training. Both groups performed exercise training at home. Twelve patients completed the study and follow-up evaluation (five VMT, seven walkers). Pulmonary function did not change in either group. For the VMT patients, there were modest increases in ventilatory muscle endurance and exercise performance. VO2max and VEmax increased significantly. For the walkers, only walking endurance time increased significantly. These results indicate that isocapnic hyperventilation exercise training can be performed successfully by COPD patients in an unsupervised home setting and can lead to improvement in both ventilatory muscle endurance and exercise performance. Walking exercise training did not improve ventilatory muscle endurance.     

An evaluation of two approaches to exercise conditioning in pulmonary rehabilitation

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of two forms of exercise training in pulmonary rehabilitation. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, unblinded, 8-week trial. SETTING: A hospital-based outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program. PATIENTS: Forty patients (20 patients in each group) with COPD who were referred for pulmonary rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: We compared the short-term effectiveness of a high-intensity, lower-extremity endurance program with a low-intensity, multicomponent calisthenics program for the rehabilitation of patients with COPD. The high-intensity group trained predominately on the stationary bicycle and treadmill, with a goal of exercising at > or = 80% of maximal level determined from incremental testing for 30 min per session. The low-intensity group performed predominately classroom exercises for approximately 30 min per session. For both groups, twice-weekly sessions were held for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure was health status, measured using the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire. Other outcomes included peak oxygen consumption on incremental treadmill exercise testing, exertional dyspnea, treadmill endurance time, the number of sit-to-stand repetitions and arm lifts in 1 min, overall dyspnea, and questionnaire-rated functional status. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Both groups showed significant postrehabilitation improvement in exercise variables, exertional and overall dyspnea, functional performance, and health status. Patients in the high-intensity group showed greater increases in treadmill endurance and greater reductions in exertional dyspnea, whereas those in the low-intensity group showed greater increases in arm-endurance testing. Both groups had similar improvements in overall dyspnea, functional performance, and health status. CONCLUSIONS: Despite differences in exercise performance, both high-intensity, lower-extremity endurance training and low-intensity calisthenics led to similar short-term improvements in questionnaire-rated dyspnea, functional performance, and health status.     

Effect of respiratory muscle endurance training in patients with COPD undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: Respiratory muscle endurance training (hyperpnea training) has been shown to have beneficial effects in patients with COPD. STUDY OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether hyperpnea training, when added to an endurance exercise training program, would lead to additional benefits compared with endurance training alone in patients with COPD. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients with COPD entering an 8-week outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program. Fifteen patients (mean [+/- SE] FEV1, 45 +/- 6% predicted) were randomized to combined therapy, and 14 patients (mean FEV1, 44 +/- 4% predicted) were randomized to endurance training. METHODS: Peak exercise capacity, exercise endurance time during constant workload cycle exercise, 6-min walk distance, quality of life as measured by the chronic respiratory questionnaire, respiratory muscle strength and endurance, and quadriceps fatigability were measured before and after endurance or combined training. RESULTS: After rehabilitation, peak exercise capacity, exercise endurance time, 6-min walk distance, and quality of life all increased in both groups, but there was no significant difference in the extent of improvement between groups. Mean respiratory muscle endurance increased to a significantly greater extent in the combined therapy group (17.5 +/- 2.7 vs 8.5 +/- 2.5 min, respectively; p = 0.02). Respiratory muscle strength was significantly increased, and quadriceps fatigability was significantly reduced after rehabilitation in the combined therapy group but not in the endurance training group, but the difference between groups did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The endurance of the respiratory muscles can be improved by specific training beyond that achieved by endurance training alone in patients with COPD. However, this improvement did not translate into additional improvement in quality of life or exercise performance.     

Effects of a two-week, hospitalized phase II cardiac rehabilitation program on physical capacity, lipid profiles and psychological variables in patients with acute myocardial infarction

A new 2-week hospitalized phase II cardiac rehabilitation program has been designed and the present study sought to clarify whether the physical and psychological status of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) improved after participation in the program. Fifty-one patients with AMI were enrolled in the rehabilitation program, which consisted of exercise training, education and counselling, and another 34 patients with AMI who did not participate in the program served as the control group. The physical and psychological status of the patients was evaluated before, at 1-month after the program, and at 6- and 12-months follow-ups. The physical status was assessed by exercise tolerance and serum lipid profiles and the psychological status was assessed by the Spielberger State-Trait anxiety inventory questionnaire (STAI) and self-rating questionnaire for depression. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using established and validated QOL scales. After participation in the program, the exercise tolerance, serum lipid profiles and STAI anxiety score of the patients were improved significantly and at the 6-month follow-up these parameters remained improved and regular physical activity was maintained. The QOL score also improved significantly. Even at the 12-month follow-up, lipid profiles remained improved and regular physical activity was maintained. The 2-week hospitalized phase II cardiac rehabilitation program improved the management of cardiac risk factors and psychological status in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). It provides beneficial effects on the patient's physical and psychological activities in the recovery phase and may also contribute to the secondary prevention of MI.     

Pulmonary rehabilitation program including respiratory conditioning for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Improved hyperinflation and expiratory flow during tidal breathing

Background

Pulmonary rehabilitation has generally relieved symptoms, strengthened exercise endurance and improved health-related quality of life (QOL) in patients with COPD, but recovery of pulmonary function remains questionable. This analysis of our innovative rehabilitation program is directed at documenting changes in patients’ expiratory airflow limitation, pulmonary symptoms and QOL. This program is designed to provide “respiratory conditioning”, a physical therapist-assisted intensive flexibility training that focuses on stretching and rib cage mobilization.

Methods

Thirty-one patients with COPD who attended rehabilitation sessions at Juntendo University Hospital from 1999 to 2006 were analyzed. Pulmonary function, expiratory flow limitation during tidal breathing, six minute walk distance (6MWD), respiratory muscle strength, and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were measured before and after pulmonary rehabilitation.

Results

In participants ages 68±7 years, the FEV₁% predicted was 39.3±15.7%. 6MWD, SGRQ and respiratory muscle strength were significantly improved after pulmonary rehabilitation. Although neither FEV₁% predicted nor FEV₁/FVC was affected to a significant extent, indicating little effect on airflow limitation, expiratory flow limitation in supine as well as seated during tidal breathing improved significantly. Moreover, rehabilitation significantly diminished TLC% predicted, FRC% predicted, RV% predicted and RV/TLC values, thus indicating a reduction of hyperinflation of the lungs at rest.

Conclusions

The present results suggest that our rehabilitation program with respiratory conditioning significantly lowered the hyperinflation of lungs at rest as well as the expiratory flow limitation during tidal breathing. In patients with COPD, overall pulmonary function improved, exercise endurance increased and health-related QOL was enhanced.Key Words: Expiratory flow limitation, hyperinflation, negative expiratory pressure, pulmonary rehabilitation, respiratory conditioning     

A randomized,controlled trial of 1 week of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on quality of life

BACKGROUND: This study examines the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on quality of life (QOL)in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with sleep apnea were studied. Health-related quality of life was measured (HRQL) with the use of the Medical Outcomes Survey (MOS) instrument, before and after patients were randomized to receive either 1 week of CPAP or placebo-CPAP (CPAP administered at ineffective pressure). RESULTS: CPAP was not found to have a specific effect on QOL as compared with placebo-CPAP. However, several aspects of HRQL improved in both groups over time in this study. Time effects were found in the following subscales of the MOS: satisfaction with physical functioning; effects of pain; pain severity; cognitive functioning; mental health index I; psychological well-being I; depression/behavioral-emotional control; anxiety I; psychological distress I; positive affect II; mental health index II; psychological distress II; anxiety II; psychological well-being II; mental health index III; role limitations due to emotional problems; and physical/physiologic functioning. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP treatment does appear to improve several aspects of HRQL. However, this improvement may reflect a nonspecific response (ie, placebo) because comparable improvements were observed in both the active treatment group and the placebo treatment group. Additional study with placebo-CPAP designs is warranted.