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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Impact of Exercise-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Systemic Inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Shivam Varfa1, Astha Jindal2, Priti Kochar3
1Pulmonary Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Rishikesh, IND.
Introduction:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airway inflammation, progressive airflow limitation, and frequent exacerbations that adversely affect functional capacity and clinical outcomes. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an established non-pharmacological intervention that improves exercise tolerance, symptom burden, and quality of life. However, its effects on systemic inflammation remain unclear.
Methods:
This narrative review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the impact of exercise-based PR on systemic inflammatory markers in COPD. The review further outlines pulmonary rehabilitation and explores the mechanisms and clinical significance of systemic inflammation in COPD, including its impact on exacerbations, prognosis, and comorbidities, as well as PR's influence on inflammatory pathways. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases. Studies published in English over the past 15 years involving human participants were considered. Included studies were randomized controlled trials and clinical studies evaluating the effect of PR or exercise-based interventions on systemic inflammatory biomarkers.
Results:
PR programs were predominantly multicomponent, combining aerobic and resistance training with breathing exercises and education, typically delivered over 8-12 weeks. Evidence regarding their impact on systemic inflammation was inconsistent despite improvements in physiological and functional outcomes, along with exercise capacity, symptom control, and quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation may modulate systemic inflammation in COPD, but effects are variable and not consistently demonstrated. Its clinical benefits are more reliably reflected in functional and symptomatic improvements rather than biomarker changes. Further standardized, high-quality studies are needed to clarify the long-term anti-inflammatory potential of PR.
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