Abstract
ObjectiveTo assess the effect of respiratory training (RT) on lung function, activity tolerance and acute exacerbation frequency with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).DesignA randomised controlled trial.SettingOutpatient clinic and home of the COPD patients, Zhengzhou City, China.SubjectsSixty participants with COPD were randomised into two groups: an intervention group (n = 30) which received the RT in self-management and a control group (n = 30) that received an education program during the study.InterventionPulmonary function, activity tolerance and frequency of acute exacerbation of these COPD patients were evaluated before and after the program. The intervention and control programs were delivered at monthly outpatient clinic visits over a period of 12 months. The pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program was conducted by a physiotherapist (who delivered RT to the participant over a minimum of 1 h per visit) for the intervention group, whereas the control group received routine health education provided by physiotherapists. The intervention group patients were then instructed to perform exercises at home as taught in the RT at least 5 days per week at home.ResultsAfter 12 months of RT, the lung function and the activity tolerance of the COPD patients in the intervention group were significantly improved and the exacerbation frequency was also decreased.ConclusionLong-term RT can improve lung function and activity tolerance while decreasing the frequency of acute exacerbation for COPD patients.
Highlights
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease characterised by chronic obstruction of lung airflow which interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible [1]
This present study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 12-month respiratory training (RT) program on lung function, activity tolerance and frequency of acute exacerbations
Baseline characteristics Seventy-five COPD patients were eligible for enrolment, out of which 70 consented and were randomised into the RT and control groups respectively
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease characterised by chronic obstruction of lung airflow which interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible [1]. It is associated with a significant reduction in physical activity and psychological problems, which contribute to disability and poor. PR therapy including supervised exercise training, nutritional support, self-management education, and psychosocial support is effective for COPD patients, few studies have focused on follow up beyond 12 months and long term outpatient compliance in a RT program. The effect of RT for COPD patients is positive. COPDX guildlines [11] and Lin et al [12] reported the effectiveness of RT that PR reduces COPD hospitalization. Few PR studies focused on acute exacerbation frequency with COPD [13, 14]
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