Comparative Assessment of CPET Versus Typical Work-related Activities in Women With and Without Mild COPD.

Abstract

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing in Germany. This study examined the work performance of healthy women compared to those with mild COPD. Nineteen women suffering from COPD Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Diseases stage I and 41 healthy women underwent standardised cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in comparison to 5 typical work-related tasks. Oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output, ventilation volume, breathing frequency, heart rate and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were measured. The activities were quantified. Wilcoxon test and ANOVA were calculated using the SPSS software. Patients with COPD had a lower exercise capacity compared to healthy women and also showed lower performance during work-related activities. Patients with COPD had a lower oxygen uptake (p<0.001), a higher breathing frequency was accompanied by a higher Borg scale. The heart rate and the ventilation volume as a percentage of maximum CPET were significantly higher in patients with COPD. Women suffering from progressive symptoms had lower oxygen uptakes and RER, whilst breathing frequency and Borg scale were elevated. Even at an early stage of the disease, patients with COPD exhibited limitations in work-related tasks.