Verbesserung des exspiratorischen Spitzenflusses (PEF) von COPD-Patienten durch Lungensport über 12 Monate

Abstract

This prospective, randomised, controlled study deals with the question whether it is possible to induce an improvement of peak expiratory flow (PEF) in patients suffering from COPD by a structured "lung" sport programme over a longer period of time (12 months). Furthermore, a comparison with the spontaneous course of the disease was performed. A group of 7 COPD patients (1 man, 6 women, mean age 70 years, COPD grade II - III according to GOLD) who regularly took part in a structured lung sport programme was compared with a control group of 10 COPD patients (5 men, 5 women, mean age 67.5 years, COPD grade II - III according to GOLD) who denied doing sport. The PEF values of the patients were measured after 0 and 12 months during exacerbation-free intervals. The relative changes of PEF in percent after one year were statistically compared. There was an improvement of PEF of about + 10.4 % (standard deviation SD +/- 8.9 %) after 12 months of lung sport. The spontaneous course of the disease of the patients who denied doing sport led to a decrease of PEF of about - 8.8 % (standard deviation SD +/- 11.5 %). The difference in PEF changes with respect to "lung" sport and to the spontaneous course of COPD was highly significant (p < 0.01) in spite of a high standard deviation. The long lasting improvement of PEF due to sport among COPD patients speaks in favour of a positive effect of "lung" sport.