[Physical exercise tolerance in chronic obstructive emphysematous bronchitis and coronary heart disease under...

19 consecutive patients (18 men, one woman, mean age 61.4 [49-73]years) with chronic obstructive airways disease (bronchitis and emphysema) together with angiographically confirmed coronary heart disease were studied to investigate their cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance and the effects of bronchodilators on their myocardial ischaemia. Because they were receiving drug therapy for angina or because they had previously undergone aortocoronary bypass operation or balloon dilatation, the patients were symptom-free. In three cases slight ischaemia was demonstrable during maximal exertion. Aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacity was determined by spiroergometry after inhalation of salbutamol (S, 0.2 mg) alone or in combination with oxitropium bromide (O, 0.2 mg). The supplementary effect of oral theophylline (T, 15 mg/kg.day) was studied in 13 patients. In terms of maximal aerobic exercise tolerance the following improvements were noted: energy output (watts): S: + 6.3%; S and O: + 12.3% (P < 0.05); S, O and T: + 14.0% (P < 0.01). Oxygen uptake (ml/min): S: + 8.2% (P < 0.05); S and O: + 18.2% (P < 0.01); S, O and T: + 35.4% (P < 0.01). Maximum exercise capacity was not significantly improved, although maximum oxygen uptake was significantly increased by the two-drug combination by 16.9% (P < 0.05) and by the three-drug combination by 19.2% (P < 0.05). Maximum minute volume and tidal volume rose significantly, though respiratory rate was unchanged. Heart rate and blood pressure remained practically unaffected by the treatment, both at rest and during exertion. There was no evidence of significant aggravation of ventricular arrhythmias or of ischaemia during ergometric testing.