Long-term efficacy of intensive cycle ergometer exercise training program for advanced COPD patients

Abstract

Background

Exercise training has been incorporated into the international guidelines for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the long-term efficacy of the training program for patients with advanced COPD has never been evaluated in Thailand.

Purpose

To determine the long-term efficacy of intensive cycle ergometer exercise program on various clinical parameters of patients with advanced COPD.

Materials and methods

The patients with advanced COPD were separated into two groups: the intensive ergometer exercise program group and the control group. The clinical parameters of all the patients were assessed at baseline, every month for the first 3 months, and then every 3 months until they had completed the 24-month follow-up. Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare baseline mean differences between the groups. Repeated measure analysis was applied to determine the progress in all parameters during the entire follow-up period. Mean incase imputation method was applied to estimate the parameters of dropout cases.

Results

A total of 41 patients were enrolled: 27 in the intensive ergometer exercise program group and 14 in the control group. The intensive cycle ergometer exercise program group showed statistically significant improvements in muscle strength (from month 1 till the end of the study, month 24), endurance time (from month 1 till the end of measurement, month 12) and clinically significant improvements in 6-minute walk distance (from month 2 until month 9), dyspnea severity by transitional dyspnea index (from month 1 till the end of the study, month 24), and quality of life (from month 1 till the end of the study, month 24). There was no significant difference in survival rates between the groups.

Conclusion

The intensive ergometer exercise training program revealed meaningful long-term improvements in various clinical parameters for up to 2 years. These promising results should encourage health care professionals to promote exercise training for patients with advanced COPD who have limited daily activities despite optimal medication control.

Keywords:

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• pulmonary rehabilitation
• ergometer training
• physical endurance
• strength training

Introduction

Exercise training program, an essential part of pulmonary rehabilitation, is now an integral part of the clinical management and health maintenance of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who remain symptomatic or have continuous decline of pulmonary function despite standard medical management. The principal goals of exercise training are to reduce symptoms, decrease disability, and increase participation in physical and social activities, as well as improve quality of life (QoL) for individuals with chronic respiratory disease.^1–4 In patients with advanced COPD, the beneficial effects of exercise training on exercise capacity, dyspnea, and QoL are well established.^5–7 American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines on diagnosis and management of COPD have emphasized the importance of exercise training for COPD patients with forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁) below 80% of predicted value.^8,9 Although pulmonary rehabilitation is widely practiced for patients with COPD in North America and parts of Europe, it is seldom applied in Thailand,¹⁰ and no exercise program has ever been evaluated for its long-term efficacy. We report for the first time the long-term efficacy of the exercise program for patients with advanced COPD in Thailand. Here, we describe the feasibility and benefits of the intensive ergometer training program called the Suandok Exercise Training (SET) program. The aim of the present study was to determine the long-term efficacy of the SET program on various clinical parameters (respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, exercise capacity, dyspnea severity, health-related QoL [HRQoL], and survival status) of patients with advanced COPD.

Materials and methods

Subjects

Patients diagnosed with moderate, severe, or very severe COPD (GOLD stages II–IV)¹¹ in a stable clinical condition (no exacerbation during the previous 6 weeks before being included in the study) and attending an outpatient chest clinic were enrolled. The inclusion criteria were patients aged over 40 years, ex-smokers with smoking history of >10 pack-years, history of exacerbation at least one time in the previous year, and willingness to follow the full course of exercise training program. Patients were excluded if they had long-term oxygen therapy, pneumonia during the previous 3 months, and cardiac disease or any other co-morbidities that limited exercise training. The study was approved by the Ethics Committees of the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, and written informed consents were obtained from all the patients.

Study design

The patients were divided into SET or control group based on their preferences. All patients had been prescribed standard medical treatment for their COPD before and throughout the study period without any changes in the regular inhaled and/or oral bronchodilator and/or inhaled corticosteroid use. Patients underwent assessments at baseline, each month during the first 3 months, and then every 3 months till 24 months post intervention. Pulmonary function tests were determined by standard spirometer (Vmax series22, Sensormedics) and reference values for a Knudson 1983. Spirometry parameters included forced vital capacity, FEV₁, and the ratio of FEV₁ to forced vital capacity. All tests were performed post bronchodilator according to ATS/ERS guidelines.¹² Exercise capacities were determined by the longest distance walk in 6 minutes (6-MWD) tested by a standard 6-minute walk test¹³ and endurance time measured by the longest duration self-paced walk on the treadmill. We measured patients’ HRQoL using the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)¹⁴ and dyspnea severity using both modified Medical Research Council (mMRC)¹⁵ and baseline/transition dyspnea index (BDI/TDI).¹⁶ We measured patients’ upper limb muscle strength using the stationary cycle ergometer (Monark, Rehab trainer 881 E, Varberg, Sweden) and lower limb muscle strength using the stationary bicycle (Monark, Ergomedic 828 E, Sweden). Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) as an indicator of inspiratory muscle strength¹⁷ was measured by Vmax series 22, Sensormedics. Patients completed pulmonary function tests, SGRQ, mMRC, BDI/TDI, upper limb and lower limb muscle strength, MIP, and 6-MWD at baseline and every month for the first 3 months, and then every 3 months until they completed the 24-month follow-up with the exception of the endurance time test, which was performed till the 12-month follow-up.

The SET program consisted of intensive and maintenance phases. The intensive phase was fully supervised by physiotherapists and nurses who conducted 16 sessions (2 sessions per week for 8 weeks). Each session included upper and lower limb cycle ergometer exercise training. Patients were trained on both stationary arm and leg ergometers. A brief warm up period of 10–15 minutes was performed before each training session. Instructions on correct stretching techniques and supervision of the patients throughout the entire training period were given. Exercise training during the first 2 weeks included arm and leg cycling trained for 30–40 minutes per session at mild intensity (30%–35% of heart rate reserve [HRR])¹⁸ and was evaluated weekly. Patients were instructed to pedal at a rate of 45–55 revolutions per minute and were encouraged to push themselves to the limits of their dyspnea, without exceeding a scale of 6 in the rating of perceived exertion (RPE).¹⁹ Exercise sessions were increased in duration and intensity by 5 minutes and 5% of HRR alternately every 2 weeks to reach a maximum of 50–60 minutes duration and 50%–55% of HRR during the last 2 weeks. Heart rate and finger pulse oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were monitored continuously throughout the training period and brief pause periods were determined according to the dyspnea level (RPE =6). Patients with de-saturation (SpO₂ <90%) were trained using supplemental oxygen via a nasal cannula. A cool down period of 5–10 minutes was allowed after each training session. The maintenance phase lasted from months 3 to 24, and all patients in SET group were encouraged to continue doing their exercises at home without monitoring compliance. The control group was just encouraged to do self-exercise at home throughout the study.

Outcome measures

Study tests were performed by all patients at baseline and at month 1–3 and then every 3 months till they completed the 24-month follow-up except for the endurance test, which was performed until the 12-month follow-up.

Upper and lower limb muscle strengths were tested by progressive incremental tests performed on a station cycle ergometer. Each patient sat on the chair in front of the arm ergometer (Monark, Rehab trainer 881 E, Sweden) or on the bicycle (Monark, Ergomedic 828 E, Sweden). Work rate was then increased by 5 watts till the patient was unable to continue cycling by arms or legs. The heaviest load was recorded.

MIP was measured as an indicator of inspiratory muscle strength using techniques described by Black and Hyatt.¹⁷ MIP was defined as the largest negative (vacuum) sustained for 1 second against an occluded airway. Measurements were taken from residual volume. A minimum of ten maneuvers were performed for each measurement, with rest periods between maneuvers. All maneuvers were performed while sitting upright in a chair. The highest value was recorded.

The 6-minute walk test was performed in accordance with the instructions of the ATS,¹³ verbal encouragement was given and the distance was recorded. An increase of 54 m was considered a minimal clinically important difference (MCID).²⁰

Endurance walk test was performed on a treadmill. Patients were instructed to walk for as long as they could at their self-paced speed. The duration of walking in minutes was recorded. Exercise was terminated by the tester if the patient could walk no longer or reached the predicted maximum heart rate.

HRQoL was assessed by SGRQ. A change in a score of four points was defined as MCID change.²¹ Shortness of breath during activities of daily living was quantified by the mMRC and BDI/TDI scores; the MCID change of each score was defined as the score change of one point.^22,23

Sample size

Sample size calculation was based on the difference in improvement in lower limb muscle strength (watt) between the experimental and the control group in our pilot study. In our pilot study, the response within each subject group was normally distributed with standard deviation 19. The mean difference in the experimental and control groups was 22.6; we need to study 12 experimental and 12 control subjects to be able to reject the null hypothesis that the population means of the experimental and control groups are equal with probability (power) 0.8. The type I error probability associated with this null hypothesis is 0.05, and anticipating a dropout rate of 20%, we planned to randomly assign 14 per group.

Statistical analysis

We analyzed the results of the program in terms of changes in muscle strength, exercise capacity, degree of dyspnea, and QoL during and following the program. Results for numerical values were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and those for categorical data were expressed as absolute frequencies and percentages. Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare baseline mean differences between the groups. Repeated measure analysis was applied to determine the progress of all parameters during the entire follow-up period. Mean incase imputation method was applied to estimate the missing case parameters. MCIDs were set for 6-MWD, SGRQ score, mMRC, and BDI/TDI scores. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier product-limit method and comparison of the two groups with the log-rank test. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. All analyses were carried out with the SPSS statistical package, version 16 for Windows.

Results

Forty-one patients meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled (27 SET and 14 control). In the follow-up period, there were 13 and 9 dropouts in the SET and control groups, respectively. The reasons for the dropout cases were that seven patients died from acute exacerbation and 15 patients dropped out from lack of motivation on follow-up visits. In the SET group, there were three fatal cases (resulting from acute exacerbation with septic shock at 15 months, with respiratory failure at 21 and 24 months) and ten cases dropped out due to lack of motivation (each one at months 3, 6, 12, 15, 18, and 21, and two cases at months 9 and 24). In the control group, there were four fatal cases (resulting from acute exacerbation with respiratory failure: two patients in month 2 and the other two patients at months 6 and 9) and five patients dropped out due to lack of motivation (each one at months 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24). The patients’ disposition to dropout is shown in Figure 1. The baseline characteristics of the SET and control groups were comparable (Table 1). No significant changes in lung function and body mass index were observed throughout the follow-up period. The uses of inhaled medications were not different between the two groups.

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of subjects in the SET and the control group

Characteristics	Total patients (n=41)		P-value
	SET (n=27)	Control (n=14)
Sex M/F, n (%)	12:15 (44.4:55.6)	7:7 (50.0:55.0)	0.735
Age (years)	71.9±6.4	72.0±7.9	0.858
Smoking (pack-years)	36.5±23.4	32.8±20.3	0.923
BMI (kg/m^2)	19.3±4.3	20.3±3.8	0.316
Exacerbations in 12 months before trial (n)	2.1±1.7	3.6±1.7	0.649
COPD admissions in 12 months before trial (n)	1.9±1.1	2.4±1.1	0.439
FEV1 (% predicted)	40.1±12.8	44.2±16.7	0.573
FEV1/FVC (%)	55.2±14.3	54.2±10.8	0.869
COPD GOLD Stage III–IV	18 (66.7)	8 (57.1)	0.511
SaO2 (%)	92.7±4.9	91.7±5.6	0.330
PaO2 (mmHg)	71.4±14.4	67.2±10.8	0.328
Hct (%)	46.2±6.4	44.3±9.0	0.606
6-MWD (m)	227.1±86.4	231.1±114.8	0.880
SGRQ score	55.5±21.0	61.4±10.8	0.752
mMRC score	2.4±1.2	2.2±0.8	0.518
BDI score	5.1±2.8	4.5±2.2	0.739
MIP (cmH2O)	47.8±24.6	49.9±23.8	0.967
Upper limb strength (Watt)	49.3±23.6	53.2±24.8	0.489
Lower limb strength (Watt)	55.3±27.0	58.8±19.0	0.619
Inhaled medications n (%)
LAAC	8 (29.6)	4 (28.6)	0.864
ICS + LABA	4 (14.8)	3 (21.4)
ICS + LABA + LAAC	15 (55.6)	7 (50.0)

Note: Data are n (%) or mean ± standard deviation.

Abbreviations: SET, Suandok exercise training; M, male; F, female; BMI, body mass index; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV₁ (% predicted), percentage predicted of forced expiratory volume in first second; FEV₁/FVC, ratio of FEV₁ to FVC; FVC, forced vital capacity; GOLD, Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; SaO₂, oxygen saturation; PaO₂, partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood; Hct, hematocrits; 6-MWD, 6-minute walk distance; SGRQ, St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire; mMRC, modified Medical Research Council; BDI, baseline dyspnea index; MIP, maximal inspiratory pressure; LAAC, long-acting anticholinergics; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; LABA, long-acting beta2-agonists.

Figure 1 Flow-chart showing participation throughout the study.

Abbreviations: Pre disc, prediscontinuation; SET, Suandok exercise training; mo, months; F/U, follow-up.

Effect on muscle strengths

Upper and lower limbs muscle strength

After 4 weeks of training, only patients in SET group had statistically significant improvements in upper and lower limb muscle strengths (P=0.017 and 0.003, respectively). The improvement was maintained till the end of the follow-up period (Figure 2A and B). Significant differences between the groups were detected at months 3, 6, 9, and 24 in upper limb muscle strength, and in all of the follow-up visits in lower limb muscle strength (P<0.05).

Figure 2 Change from baseline over 24 months in muscle strength.

Notes: (A) Change from baseline over 24 months in upper limb muscle strength. (B) Change from baseline over 24 months in lower limb muscle strength. (C) Change from baseline over 24 months in respiratory muscle strength. Values and error bars represent the mean ± standard error. Within-group change from baseline; *P<0.05. Comparison between patients with SET and control groups; ^#P<0.05.
Abbreviations: MIP, maximum inspiratory pressure; SET, Suandok exercise training.

Respiratory muscle strength

After 4 weeks of training, only patients in the SET group had statistically significant improvements in MIP and the gains were maintained throughout month 24 (Figure 2C). There were no significant differences between the groups (P=0.69).

Effect on exercise capacity

After 8 weeks of training, only patients in the SET group had clinically significant improvement in 6-MWD. The improvement was maintained until month 9 (Figure 3A). No statistically significant differences between the groups were detected throughout the follow-up period (P=0.065).

Figure 3 Change from baseline over 24 months in exercise capacities.

Notes: (A) Change from baseline over 24 months in 6-MWD. (B) Change from baseline over 12 months in endurance time. Values and error bars represent the mean ± standard error. Within-group change from baseline in 6-MWD. Within-group change from baseline in endurance time; *P<0.05. Comparison between patients with SET and control groups; ^#P<0.05.
Abbreviations: 6-MWD, 6-minute walk distance; SET, Suandok exercise training; MCID, minimal clinically important difference.

After 4 weeks of training, only patients in the SET group had statistically significant improvement in endurance time (P<0.01). The improvement was maintained throughout the testing period (month 12; Figure 3B). Significant differences between groups were also detected at all follow-up visits (P<0.01).

Effect on breathlessness

The dyspnea score by mMRC did not show clinically significant differences in both groups and the statistical significant differences between groups were only detected at months 3, 6, and 9 (P<0.05; Figure 4A). However, the dyspnea score showed clinically significant changes by TDI only in the SET group at all follow-up visits and so did the statistical significant differences between the groups (P<0.01; Figure 4B).

Figure 4 Effect on breathlessness.

Notes: (A) Change from baseline over 24 months in mMRC score. (B) Change from baseline over 24 months in TDI score. Values and error bars represent the mean ± standard error. Within-group change from baseline in TDI; *MCID +1 unit. Comparison between patients with SET and control groups; ^#P<0.05.
Abbreviations: mMRC, modified Medical Research Council; TDI, transitional dyspnea index; SET, Suandok exercise training; MCID, minimal clinically important difference; BDI, baseline dyspnea index.

Effect on HRQoL

After 4 weeks of training, only patients in the SET group had clinically significant improvements in SGRQ score. The improvement was maintained till the end of follow-up period (Figure 5). The patients in the control group had clinically significant improvements in SGRQ score only in months 3 and 21. The statistically significant differences in SGRQ score between the groups were detected at all follow-up visits (P=0.004).

Figure 5 Effect on HRQoL.

Notes: Change from baseline over 24 months in SGRQ score. Values and error bars represent the mean ± standard error. Within-group change from baseline; *MCID −4 unit. Comparison between patients with SET and control groups; ^#P<0.05.
Abbreviations: HRQoL, health-related quality of life; SGRQ, St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire; SET, Suandok exercise training; MCID, minimal clinically important difference.

Effects on survival

The overall survival curves for both groups are shown in Figure 6. After 2 years of follow-up, 34 of the original 41 patients were alive (survival rate, 82.9%), 24 of the 27 patients in the SET group (88.9%) and 10 of the 14 patients in the control group (71.4%). The difference in survival rate of the patients between the groups was not statistically significant (P=0.092).

Figure 6 Kaplan–Meier survival curves for patients in SET and control groups during 2 years of follow-up.

Abbreviation: SET, Suandok exercise training.

Discussion

Exercise training, a multidisciplinary and structured intervention for patients with chronic pulmonary diseases has been shown to improve exercise tolerance, reduce dyspnea, and improve HRQoL. Exercise training represents the cornerstone of every pulmonary rehabilitation program.²⁴ This study indicates definite benefits of intensive ergometer exercise training for patients with advanced COPD as compared to the patients who participated in the control group. Our study reveals that ergometer exercise training produced both clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, exercise capacity, degree of dyspnea (by BDI/TDI), and HRQoL, even though no significant effect was observed on survival outcome. Exercise intensities were started from mild-to-moderate (30%–35% to 50%–55% of HRR) and duration of exercise was increased from 30–40 minutes to 50–60 minutes per session. The guidelines of American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommended that the training intensity should be targeted at 50%–80% of the maximal oxygen uptake or HRR for endurance exercise.²⁵ The ACSM also advised to sustain intensity for 20–45 minutes and to stop cycling for 2–3 minutes during cycle ergometry when the breathlessness reaches 5–6 RPE because interval training is well accepted and shows similar improvements in patients with severe COPD.²⁶ Few studies have been able to demonstrate the long-term maintenance of benefits beyond 2 years^5,6,27–30 but our study has confirmed that most of the benefits of the SET program were well maintained throughout the 24-month follow-up.

In our study, there were statistically significant improvements in respiratory muscle, upper and lower limb muscle strengths, endurance time, and clinically and statistically significant improvements in BDI/TDI, and QoL since the first month after SET was started, except the 6-MWD, which improved one month later. Some parameters (respiratory, upper and lower limb muscle strength, BDI/TDI, and QoL) were improved throughout the study period (24-month follow-up). In addition, these parameters were continually improved for quite a long period after SET ended. Although there was clinically significant improvement in the severity of dyspnea in the patients in the SET group measured by TDI, the dyspnea score measured by mMRC did not show clinically significant improvement. Therefore, we could conclude that the change in TDI is more sensitive than mMRC for measuring the dyspnea severity. For exercise capacities, we measured both 6-MWD and endurance time. The 6-MWD started to improve clinically from month 2 and persistentally improved up to month 9. The endurance time started to significantly improve from month 1 (one month earlier than 6-MWD) and persistently improved throughout the one-year testing period (at least 3 months longer than 6-MWD). The earlier and persistently longer improvement of endurance time than the 6-MWD might indirectly reflect that endurance time is a more sensitive parameter than 6-MWD for measuring change of exercise capacity in COPD. The severity of dyspnea significantly improved both clinically and statistically as indicated by the mean change in the TDI score but not by mMRC score. Other studies have suggested that the latter, by using a rougher scale, is not sensitive enough to detect changes in patients with advanced COPD.³¹ For the QoL, the patients in the SET group showed persistent improvement throughout all visits over the 2-year period. Varying results on survival were reported in previous retrospective, non-randomized survival analyses.^1,32 Our results indicated that there was a slight but not significant difference in survival rate between the SET (89%) and the control (71%) groups. The absence of significant difference in survival rate between the SET and the control groups might be due to a small sample size, significant dropout rate, and only a 2-year follow-up. As expected, FEV₁ was the most significant predictor of survival. Our SET program did not affect the measures of pulmonary function that were shown in previous studies to be significant predictors of survival in patients with COPD.^33,34

ATS/ERS had suggested that the exercise training program should offer at least three sessions per week to achieve any physiologic benefits.³⁵ This was modified later to twice weekly supervised plus one unsupervised home session. Our results were contrary to those of Ringbaek et al³⁶ who did not find any improvement in exercise capacity while exercising twice a week for 8 weeks. The reason could be that our SET exercise program was more intensified and the patients were more deconditioned.

Although our study had benefits of training on 2-year follow-up, all outcome measurements showed peak response at month 9. These benefits, which were similar to other studies, suggested that after 9 months, the rehabilitation program should have some reinforcements after the core phase in the form of supervised periods of exercise, group sessions to discuss progress and problems, and the introduction of maintenance techniques.³²

Our study had some limitations. First, the study was conducted in a single university-based center and it might not be applicable to large-scale practices, especially those that do not have specialized physiotherapists and nurses. Second, the study was not designed as a double-blinded randomized control trial with sham exercise in the control group; we had divided the patients following their preferences. The patients in SET group might have had more motivation for coping with their COPD than the control group and might have been more enthusiastic about continuing their self-exercise program after the first 2 months of the intensive supervised one. Third, our study had significantly high dropout rates in both groups. There were 19.5% versus 50% and 49.1% versus 64.3% of patients dropped out from the study by 12 months and 24 months in the SET group versus the control group, respectively. The proportion of respondents declining rehabilitation appears similar to other studies (9%–50%).^37–40

Conclusion

Our results confirm that the SET program, as an intensive ergometer exercise, is effective for patients with advanced COPD. This program proved to be a feasible approach for improving peripheral and respiratory muscle strengths, dyspnea, and QoL up to 2 years and exercise capacity up to at least the 9-month follow-up. These promising results should encourage the health care professionals to promote exercise training for patients with advanced COPD who are prone to limit most of their daily activities despite optimal medication control.

Author contributions

CP (pulmonologist) developed study design and carried out acquisition and interpretation of data, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, and critical revision of intellectual contents. WC (physical therapist) helped CP conducting acquisition and interpretation of data and critical reviews of the manuscript, revised the article for important intellectual content and gave final approval of the version to be published. The other authors contributed to acquisition and interpretation of data, revised the article for important intellectual content and gave final approval of the version to be published.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the patients who kindly took part in this study and to acknowledge the staff members of the Division of Pulmonary Critical Care and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University for their contribution to this trial. Our gratitude also goes to Jatuporn Wongsatitkul for her consultation for developing the SET program and Monsicha Somrit for providing her expertise as a skillful physiotherapist.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest in connection with the work submitted.