Effectiveness of home‐based exercise in older patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A 3‐year cohort study

Abstract

Aim: To determine whether home-based exercise can improve clinical outcomes in older patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using long-term oxygen therapy.Methods: Information was provided to improve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease self-management before the onset of the present prospective 3-year cohort study. Patients selected either home-based exercise using a lower-limb cycle machine (ergo-bicycle; group E), or usual exercise (group U). To assess self-management, the Lung Information Needs Questionnaire was evaluated every 6 months. Clinical outcomes included the 6-min walk test, pulmonary function tests, the body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea and exercise index, St. George's respiratory questionnaire, and the number of exacerbations and hospitalizations.Results: A total of 136 patients (group E = 72; group U = 64), with a mean age of 74.2 years were enrolled. Total Lung Information Needs Questionnaire scores improved over 3 years for group E (P = 0.003). The distance of the 6-min walk test was well maintained in group E, but significantly decreased in group U (P < 0.001). The percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s at baseline was lower in group E (P = 0.016), but was maintained over 3 years, whereas a significant reduction was seen in group U (P = 0.001). The body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea and exercise index significantly worsened in both groups over 3 years (group E: P = 0.011; group U: P < 0.001), whereas a significant decrease in the number of exacerbations was noted in group E (P = 0.009). Conclusions:Patients who undertook home-based exercise using an ergo-bicycle were able to maintain clinical outcomes including 6-min walk test distance and percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s predicted, and recorded fewer exacerbations over 3 years. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; ••: ••-••.

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Pulmonary Tele-Rehabilitation in Patients (Post Covid-19) With Respiratory Complications: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Long COVID can be a range of symptoms that typically last awhile after an individual is initially More often than not, respiratory issues are treated by physical therapy in a hospital setting, but home based health care is an option that allows patients the comfort level of their own homes when recovering from any type of illness or disorder. The treatment program for these patients will consist of therapeutic exercises that target respiration through breathing training 2,19,20,21 .…”

Treatment of Dyspnea in Advanced Disease and at the End of Life

“…Patients with COPD who self-selected to purchase a lower limb cycle machine and participate in tailored self-management education experienced similar decline in dyspnea measured by the Modified Medical Research Council as that in patients in the usual exercise control group. 52 Patients in the intervention group were encouraged to use the cycle machine for at least 20 minutes per day with intensity measured by dyspnea between 3 and 4 on the modified Borg scale. No measure of exercise adherence was reported.…”