Effectiveness of home-based exercise in older patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A 3-year...

To determine whether home-based exercise can improve clinical outcomes in older patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using long-term oxygen therapy.

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.

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).

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 2018; 18: 42-49.