[Home-based exercise training in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Introduction The role of rehabilitation programmes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is to lower dyspnoea, improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. Objective We have developed a short-course, home-based, rehabilitation programme of physical exercise for lower limb muscles, based on walking at patients’ fastest pace. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of such a programme regarding the exercise tolerance, pulmonary functions and quality of life. Method Twenty-nine individuals with stable COPD (22 males, 7 females), with a mean age of 59.6±8.9 years participated in the study. Subjects were assessed before and after the 8-week rehabilitation programme using the six-minute walking test (6MWT), Borg breathlessness score, oxygen saturation, St. George’s Hospital Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and spirometry. Results The 6MWT distance improved significantly from 337 to 362 m, representing 8.3% (25 m) improvement over baseline. SGRQ activity, impact and total scores improved significantly after the rehabilitation programme (p<0.01) and quality of life, too. Anxiety and depression scores were significantly lower than the baseline (p<0.01), as well as dyspnoea sensation (p<0.01). Pulmonary function improved after an eight-week exercise programme, too (p<0.01). Conclusion This short-term and simple home-based exercise programme improved health status in COPD. It also improved exercise tolerance, breathlessness sensation and quality of life in COPD patients.