Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5594247 | Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology | 2017 | 30 Pages |
Abstract
We hypothesized that severe COPD patients who present with the disadvantageous phenomenon of Expiratory Flow Limitation (EFL) may benefit as COPD patients without EFL do after implementation of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) program. Forty-two stable COPD patients were studied at rest and during exercise. EFL and dynamic hyperinflation (DH) were documented using the negative expiratory pressure (NEP) technique and inspiratory capacity (IC) maneuvers, respectively. Patient centered outcomes were evaluated by the Saint-George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the mMRC dyspnea scale. Before PR, 16 patients presented with EFL at rest and/or during exercise. After PR, EFL was abolished in 15 out of those 16 EFL patients who exhibited a significant increase in IC values. These were mainly accomplished through a modification of the breathing pattern. In the 26 NFL patients no increase was noted in their IC or a modification of their breathing pattern. However, both NFL and EFL COPD patients improved exercise capacity and patients centered outcomes undergoing the same PR program.
Keywords
FRCmodified Medical Research Council dyspnea scaleVT/TIMMRCSGRQEELVDLCONFLFEV1TLCQOLTV, Tidal volumeQuality of lifeEFLBreathing patternCOPDChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseminute ventilationPulmonary rehabilitationDynamic hyperinflationEnd-expiratory lung volumediffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxideinspiratory capacityFunctional residual capacityTotal lung capacitybreathing frequencyCardiac frequencyNegative expiratory pressureExpiratory flow limitationNEP
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Authors
Elpida P. Theodorakopoulou, Sofia-Antiopi Gennimata, Maria Harikiopoulou, Georgios Kaltsakas, Anastasios Palamidas, Antonia Koutsoukou, Charis Roussos, Epameinondas N. Kosmas, Petros Bakakos, Nickolaos G. Koulouris,