Effects of long-term home-based Liuzijue exercise combined with clinical guidance in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of participants

Characteristics	CG (n = 19)	LG (n = 17)	p-value*
Age (years)	66 ± 9	66 ± 9	0.98
Gender (male/female, n)	14/5	14/3	0.69
Years of COPD	9 ± 4	8 ± 5	0.57
BMI, kg/m^2	23 ± 4	23 ± 4	0.92
Smoking history (yes/no, n)	16/3	14/3	1
Smoking status, n (%)			0.35
Current smoker	6 (31.6%)	2 (11.8%)
Ex-smoker	10 (52.6%)	12 (70.6%)
Smoking consumption, n (%)			0.87
<15 packs/year	2 (10.5%)	1 (5.9%)
15–29 packs/year	3 (15.8%)	3 (17.6%)
≥30 packs/year	14 (73.7%)	13 (76.5%)
COPD stage, n (%)			0.73
Grade II	13 (68.6%)	10 (58.8%)
Grade III	6 (31.4%)	7 (41.2%)

Notes: Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or n (%). Independent sample t-test was used to compare age, years of COPD, and BMI between groups. Chi-square test was used to compare gender, smoking history, smoking status, smoking consumption, and COPD stage between groups. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.

* p-value for the comparison of outcome variables between groups.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; CG, control group; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; LG, Liuzijue exercise group.

Figure 1 Study flow diagram.

Abbreviations: CG, control group; LG, Liuzijue exercise group.

Table 2 Comparison of changes in pulmonary function and exercise capacity

Parameters	CG (n = 19)				LG (n = 17)				p^c
	Pre	Post	p^a	Changes	Pre	Post	p^b	Changes
FEV 1%pred, %	58.49 ± 19.4	57.13 ± 18.3	0.09	−1.36 ± 0.78	55.50 ± 16.8	63.06 ± 21.6	0.006	7.57 ± 2.42	0.001
FEV 1/FVC%, %	60.78 ± 10.3	58.07 ± 13.0	0.47	−2.71 ± 3.65	56.93 ± 12.8	62.28 ± 16.4	0.037	5.36 ± 2.36	0.136
6MWD, meters	417.47 ± 64.05	418.71 ± 66.19	0.77	1.24 ± 4.14	435.41 ± 64.18	483.62 ± 67.30	0.001	48.21 ± 11.45	<0.001
30 s SST, repetitions	16.26 ± 3.03	16.58 ± 3.15	0.27	0.32 ± 0.28	16.65 ± 2.96	19.06 ± 3.82	0.001	2.41 ± 0.56	0.002

Notes: Pre and post data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Changes were calculated by post minus pre and expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean. The paired t-test was used to analyze within-group difference, and the analysis of covariance model was used to analyze the differences between groups after intervention. p^a values for comparison of outcome variables from baseline to 6 months within control group. p^b values for comparison of outcome variables from baseline to 6 months within Liuzijue exercise group. p^c values for the comparison of outcome variables from baseline to 6 months between groups.

Abbreviations: 6MWD, 6-minute walking distance; 30 s SST, 30-second sit-to-stand test; CG, control group; FEV 1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; LG, Liuzijue exercise group.

Table 3 Comparison of quality of life assessed by SGRQ

Parameters	CG (n = 19)				LG (n = 17)				p^c
	Pre	Post	p^a	Changes	Pre	Post	p^b	Changes
Dyspnea score	52.79 ± 18.54	56.63 ± 21.61	0.199	3.84 ± 2.88	58.71 ± 17.95	32.53 ± 17.32	<0.001	−26.18 ± 4.33	<0.001
Impact score	29.21 ± 14.91	35.16 ± 18.67	0.043	5.95 ± 2.8	30.35 ± 19.96	17.12 ± 13.58	<0.001	−13.24 ± 2.99	<0.001
Activity score	43.32 ± 17.00	51.63 ± 23.42	0.003	8.32 ± 2.46	46.06 ± 19.03	29.94 ± 13.78	<0.001	−16.12 ± 3.64	<0.001
Total score	37.37 ± 15.13	45.78 ± 16.36	0.006	6.58 ± 2.14	39.88 ± 17.26	23.71 ± 11.47	<0.001	−16.18 ± 2.4	<0.001

Notes: Pre and post data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Changes were calculated by post minus pre and expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean. The paired t-test was used to analyze within-group difference, and the analysis of covariance model was used to analyze the differences between groups after intervention. p^a values for comparison of outcome variables from baseline to 6 months within control group. p^b values for comparison of outcome variables from baseline to 6 months within Liuzijue exercise group. p^c values for comparison of outcome variables from baseline to 6 months between groups.

Abbreviations: CG, control group; LG, Liuzijue exercise group; SGRQ, St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire.

Figure 2 Pulmonary function in the CG and LG groups after 6-month training period.

Notes: *p < 0.05, comparisons were significant within groups; **p < 0.01, comparisons were significant within groups.

Abbreviations: CG, control group; FEV 1%pred, forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a percentage of predicted; FEV 1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; LG, Liuzijue exercise group.

Figure 3 Exercise capacity in the CG and LG groups after 6-month training period.

Note: **p < 0.01, comparisons were significant within groups.
Abbreviations: 6MWT, 6-minute walking test; 30 s SST, 30-second sit-to-stand test; CG, control group; LG, Liuzijue exercise group.