Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2025

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Changes in systemic inflammation after pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD and severe physical inactivity
Mimi Thyregod1,2, Anders Løkke2,3, Søren T Skou4,5
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, 91907Naestved Hospital, Nastved, Denmark.
Background:
Severe physical inactivity (SPI) in patients with COPD is associated with a poor prognosis. It is unknown whether there is a link between SPI and systemic inflammation, and if systemic inflammation in SPI changes following pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).
Methods:
A prospective, observational study of patients referred for at least 7 weeks of PR comprising 2 h of exercise therapy and education twice weekly. At baseline and after PR, daily physical activity level (PAL) was measured with a validated activity monitor, SenseWear® as well as systemic inflammation: b-eosinophils, p-fibrinogen, p-CRP, s-IL-6 and s-CD 163. SPI was defined as PAL <1.4.
Results:
At baseline, SPI was present in 31 of the 57 patients included, and 23% (7/31) improved to non-SPI after PR. We observed no differences between patients with SPI and non-SPI, except baseline plasma fibrinogen level was slightly yet significantly higher in patients with SPI (median 13.3 [6.2-23.6] vs 11.2 [6.5-16.7] µmol/l) but change in fibrinogen levels differed insignificantly between patients who improved to non-SPI at follow-up compared to patients with persistent SPI (-0.6 [-16.9-9.9] vs -0.4 [-11.2-1.2] µmol/l).
Conclusion:
SPI in COPD appears not to be associated with a distinct inflammatory profile compared to less sedentary COPD patients attending pulmonary rehabilitation. Currently biomarkers have no role in the detection of SPI in COPD.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

