The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation on pulmonary rehabilitation participation and functional outcomes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation (COPDE) on pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) participation and completion and on PR outcomes of daily activity, self-reported daily exercise, and functional capacity. METHODS: Participants in an 8-week outpatient PR program were studied pre- and post-PR. Variables included COPDE occurrence (computerized patient record system), self-reported exercise (daily activity diary), daily activity (accelerometer), exercise capacity (6-minute walk distance), dyspnea today and over the past 30 days (Lareau's Functional Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire), health status (The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey adapted for Veterans), and quality of life (Seattle Obstructive Lung Disease Questionnaire). RESULTS: Outpatients with COPD (N = 146, 140 men) started PR; 112 completed the program and were studied. Of the 30 participants who had at least 1 COPDE during the program, 10 quit the program. Subjects who exacerbated had a lower body mass index than did patients without COPDE (28.4 compared with 30.8, respectively, P < .05), more severe COPD (percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration, FEV1% predicted, 32%, compared with 40%, respectively, P< .05), and required supplemental oxygen (70% compared with 36%, respectively, P< .05). Exacerbators who completed PR were more likely to be nonsmokers, on oxygen, and have a higher FEV1% predicted than were exacerbators who quit. It was found that postprogram exercise capacity improved overall, with exacerbators performing better than nonexacerbators on the 6-minute walk test (P = .044). There were no significant differences in other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that COPD exacerbators who completed PR had similar outcomes as did nonexacerbators and should be encouraged to return to PR after COPDE.

A randomized clinical trial of an activity and exercise adherence intervention in chronic pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of an exercise adherence intervention to maintain daily activity, adherence to exercise, and exercise capacity over 1 year after completion of an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program. DESIGN: A 2-group, experimental design was used with randomization into intervention and usual care groups. SETTING: Outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program in a university-affiliated medical center. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred six subjects (98 men; 98 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) with a mean age of 67 years and chronic lung disease. INTERVENTION: Twelve-week adherence intervention (weekly phone calls and home visit) including counseling on establishing, monitoring, and problem-solving in maintaining a home exercise program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes included daily activity (accelerometer), exercise adherence (exercise diary), and exercise capacity (six-minute walk test). All measures were performed at baseline, after the pulmonary rehabilitation program (8 wk), after the adherence intervention (20 wk), and at 1 year. RESULTS: A rank-based analysis of covariance showed less decline at 20 weeks in exercise adherence (intervention mean, +3 min; control mean, -13 min; P=.015) and exercise capacity (intervention mean, -10.7 m; control mean, -35.4 m; P=.023). There were no differences in daily activity at 20 weeks or any differences in any primary variable at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention enhanced exercise adherence and exercise capacity in the short term but produced no long-term benefit. These findings are in part attributed to the disappointing measurement characteristics of the accelerometer used to measure daily activity. The intervention was acceptable to participants. Further study is needed to fashion interventions that have more persistent benefit.

Seattle Obstructive Lung Disease Questionnaire: sensitivity to outcomes in pulmonary rehabilitation in severe pulmonary illness.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of the Seattle Obstructive Lung Disease Questionnaire (SOLDQ) to detect change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following a pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) and to determine associations with other functional indicators. METHODS: A prospective pre- and post-test design. A PRP was offered for 60 minutes, 2 times per week for 8 weeks. Measured at entry and exit to the PRP: the SOLDQ (physical, emotional, and coping skills), 6-minute walk, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey-36 Veterans (SF-36V) (physical and mental), Lareau Functional Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale. Setting was an outpatient PRP in a VA Medical Center. RESULTS: Participants included 58 adults who completed the PRP (age mean = 66, SD +/- 9.8; FEV1% predicted mean = 39, SD +/- 15.9). At baseline, significant correlations were found between SOLDQ physical functioning and SF-36V physical, dyspnea, fatigue, 6-minute walk distance, SF-36V mental, and spirometry. SOLDQ emotional functioning significantly correlated with fatigue, dyspnea, and SF-36V mental and physical. SOLDQ coping skills significantly correlated with fatigue, dyspnea, and SF-36V mental and physical. Paired, 2-tailed, t tests comparing the SOLDQ subscales pre- and post-program were significant, with the biggest treatment effect seen with emotional functioning. Other measures showing significant improvement included 6-minute walk, SF-36V physical, dyspnea, and fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: After participation in a PRP, all 3 SOLDQ subscales improved significantly and were associated with other indicators of function. These findings validate the SOLDQ as a measure sensitive to functional changes associated with participation in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Bodies in motion: monitoring daily activity and exercise with motion sensors in people with chronic pulmonary disease.

A primary goal of pulmonary rehabilitation is to improve health and life quality by encouraging participants to engage in exercise and to increase daily physical activity. The recent advent of motion sensors, including digital pedometers and accelerometers that measure motion as a continuous variable, have added precision to the measurement of free-living daily activity. Daily activity and exercise are variables of keen interest to proponents of the national health agenda, epidemiologists, clinical researchers, and rehabilitation interventionists. This paper summarizes issues related to conceptualizing and monitoring activity in the rehabilitation setting; reviews motion sensor methodology; compares motion-sensing devices; presents analysis issues and current and potential applications to the pulmonary rehabilitation setting; and gives practical applications and limitations.