Ventilatory support during training improves training benefit in severe chronic airway obstruction

One mechanism that may limit training effect in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the ventilatory limitation and associated dyspnea.

To minimize ventilatory limitation during training of patients with severe COPD by applying bi-level positive pressure ventilation during training in order to augment training intensity (and effect).

The study group comprised 19 patients (18 males, 1 female) with a mean age of 64 +/- 9 years. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 32 +/- 4% of predicted, and all were ventilatory-limited (exercise breathing reserve 3 +/- 9 L/min, normal > 15 L/min). The patients were randomized: 9 were assigned to training with BiPAP and 10 to standard training. All were trained on a treadmill for 2 months, twice a week, 45 minutes each time, at maximal tolerated load. Incremental maximal unsupported exercise test was performed before and at the end of the training period.

BiPAP resulted in an increment of 94 +/- 53% in training speed during these 2 months, as compared to 41 +/- 19% increment in the control group (P < 0.005). Training with BiPAP yielded an average increase in maximal oxygen uptake of 23 +/- 16% (P < 0.005), anaerobic threshold of 11 +/- 12% (P < 0.05) and peak O2 pulse of 20 +/- 19% (P < 0.05), while peak exercise lactate concentration was not higher after training. Interestingly, in the BiPAP group, peak exercise ventilation was also 17 +/- 20% higher after training (P < 0.05). Furthermore, contrary to our expectation, at any given work rate, ventilation (and tidal volume) in the BiPAP group was higher in the post-training test as compared to the pre-training test, and the end tidal partial pressure of CO2 at 55 watts was lower, 40 +/- 4 and 38 +/- 4 mmHg respectively (P < 0.05). No improvement in exercise capacity was observed after this short training period in the control group.

Pressure-supported ventilation during training is feasible in patients with severe COPD and it augments the training effect. The improved exercise tolerance was associated with higher ventilatory response and therefore lower P(ET)CO2 at equal work rates after training.