Baseline Characteristics of Subjects with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Associated to the Improvement in Activities of Daily Living after Exercise Training.

This study aimed to identify baseline variables predicting improvement in ADLs following an exercise training program in subjects with COPD. Sixty-seven patients with COPD underwent assessment of spirometry, modified Medical Research Council scale, COPD Assesment Test (CAT), Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT), London Chest Activity of Daily Living (LCADL) scale and Glittre-ADL test (TGlittre). After 24 sessions, they were reassessed for limitation in ADLs (LCADL and TGlittre). The main outcome was the achieving of minimal important difference (MID) of TGlittre, LCADL and both (ADLs). The cut-off points to discriminate the subjects who achieved the MID of TGlittre, LCADL and ADLs were established using the ROC curve. A cut-off point of 3.7 min in baseline TGlittre was able to discriminate subjects who achieved the MID of TGlittre (AUC = 0.77). Subjects with baseline TGlittre ≥3.7 min were 6.92 (95%CI 2.2-20.9) times more likely to achieve the MID of TGlittre post-exercise training. A cut-off point of 32% in LCADL was able to discriminate subjects who achieved the MID of LCADL (AUC = 0.81) and in ADLs (AUC = 0.78). Subjects with baseline LCADL ≥32% were 12.3 (95% CI 2.50 - 60.7) times more likely to achieve the MID of LCADL. In conclusion, the baseline variables that best predict the improvement of individuals after exercise training are TGlittre and LCADL, showing that subjects with significant functional impairment are more likely to clinically significantly improve their ADLs.

Physiological responses to the Glittre-ADL test in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological responses induced by the Glittre-ADL test (TGlittre) test in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and compare them with those induced by the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SUBJECTS: Eighteen patients with COPD 66 years (standard deviation (SD) 8) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 40.4% (SD 16.8) predicted) who performed in randomized order the 6MWT and TGlittre on 2 separate days. RESULTS: Baseline cardiopulmonary variables were similar between the 6MWT and TGlittre (p > 0.05). TGlittre induced slightly higher final VO2 than 6MWT 83.6 ml/min (SD 163.9); p < 0.05) and oxygen consumption (VO2) reached a plateau after the third lap during TGlittre. The other physiological variables, except respiratory exchange rate, were similar at the end of both tests (p > 0.05). All measured variables were significantly correlated between the 2 tests (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TGlittre can induce slightly higher oxygen uptake than the 6MWT with similar cardiovascular and ventilatory demand and ventilatory efficiency.