Test of incremental respiratory endurance as home-based, stand-alone therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary...

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing worldwide, and at the same time it is associated with increased mortality and reduced quality of life. Efforts to build sustainable rehabilitation approaches to COPD treatment and prevention are crucial. The system of long-term pulmonary rehabilitation care is insufficient. The main reasons for the absence of these outpatient programs are the lack of experience, the lack of interest of insurance companies in secondary prevention programs, and the lack of healthcare facilities in large geographical areas. The possibility of at-home pulmonary rehabilitation models (telemonitoring and telecoaching) could solve this problem.

A 71-year-old man with severe COPD, Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Diseases stage 3 underwent an 8-wk remotely monitored inspiratory muscle training with a device based on the test of incremental respiratory endurance method. Spirometry, body plethysmography, test of incremental respiratory endurance examination, 6-min walking test, body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, exercise capacity index, and subjective perception of dyspnea were performed as part of the initial and final examination. The patient performed training at home, and the physiotherapist monitored the patient remotely through a web application that allowed the physiotherapist to evaluate all training parameters in real-time and respond to any problems. After 8 wk of home training, there was a significant increase in all monitored values: maximal inspiratory pressure, a novel parameter sustained maximal inspiratory pressure, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, total lung capacity, forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and inspiratory capacity. There was also an improvement in the perception of dyspnea according to the COPD Assessment Test and a modified Medical Research Council Breathlessness Scale, an increase in exercise tolerance according to the 6-min walking test, and a decrease in the exercise capacity index as a predictor of prognosis.

Respiratory telerehabilitation was greatly beneficial in a cooperative patient with COPD and may represent an alternative therapeutic approach to the increasing incidence of all lung diseases.