Respuesta al entrenamiento en EPOC: Diferencia entre limitación por fatiga muscular y por disnea / Training response in COPD: Differences between fatigue-limited and dyspnea-limited patients

Este estudio comparó la respuesta post entrenamiento al ejercicio en pacientes limitados por fatiga muscular (LF) vs. disnea (LD). Se incluyeron pacientes con EPOC moderada y grave (definición GOLD), clasificándolos en LF si la respuesta a cicloergometría máxima tenía ≥ 2 puntos en la escala de Borg para fatiga muscular vs. disnea; LD a la inversa. Se realizaron ergometría submáxima, 6 minutos y pruebas de calidad de vida mediante cuestionario. Fueron entrenados 3 veces/semana, 90 min/sesión con ejercicios de fuerza y aeróbicos por 8 semanas, evaluándolos de la misma manera. Fueron estudiados 14 pacientes del grupo LF y 11 del LD. El promedio de edad fue 69 y 66 años respectivamente. Presentaban grave obstrucción bronquial (FEV1: 49%). No existían diferencias basales entre ambos grupos, excepto en el índice masa-corporal (IMC), menor en los LF. Luego del entrenamiento, ambos grupos mejoraron significativamente en variables de ejercicio y calidad de vida, excepto carga máxima en los LD. Comparando ambos grupos, se observó mejor respuesta en los LF en carga máxima (48.7 ± 9.2 vs. 40.04 ± 15.48 watts, p = 0.033), prueba de 6 minutos (505.42 ± 50.75 vs. 454.9 ± 64.3 metros, p = 0.048) y ergometría submáxima (14.57 ± 9.55 vs. 6.71 ± 4.18min, p = 0.025), respectivamente. Como conclusión, los pacientes LF tuvieron mayor respuesta al entrenamiento en ejercicios submáximos y carga máxima, presentando menor IMC. Posiblemente, deberían instrumentarse diferentes estrategias de entrenamiento para diferentes fenotipos de pacientes con EPOC.

Our objective was to study the post-training response to exercise, comparing fatigue-limited (FL) vs. dyspnea-limited (DL) COPD patients. Moderate and severe COPD patients (GOLD definition) were included. They were classified as FL if Borg score of fatigue at maximal exercise testing was ≥ 2 points vs. dyspnea; and DL if it was the reverse. Also, each patient was evaluated with submaximal cycloergometry, 6 minutes walking test and quality of life score (SGRQ). All patients were trained 3 times/week, 90 min/session with aerobic and strength exercises by 8 weeks. A total of 14 patients in LF and 11 in LD group were evaluated with same tools. Means of age were 69 and 66 years respectively. They presented severe airway flow obstruction (FEV1: 49%). There was not any baseline difference between both groups, except body-mass index, which was lower in FL. Both groups significantly improved p exercise variables post-training in comparison with baseline and SGRQ, except maximal workload in DL. Comparing both groups, FL had the highest maximal workload (48.7 ± 9.2 vs. 40.04 ± 15.48 watts, p = 0.033), 6 minute walking test (505.42 ± 50.75 vs. 454.9±64.3 meters, p = 0.048) and endurance time (14.57 ± 9.55 vs. 6.71 ± 4.18 min, p = 0.025), respectively. It can be concluded that FL patients had better response after training in maximal and submaximal exercise tests in comparison with DL. Perhaps, different training strategies would be performed to train different COPD phenotypes.

Effect of exercise on the caloric intake of breast cancer patients undergoing treatment

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an exercise intervention on the total caloric intake (TCI) of breast cancer patients undergoing treatment. A secondary purpose was to determine whether or not a relationship existed between changes in TCI, body fat composition ( percentBF), and fatigue during the study, which lasted 6 months. Twenty females recently diagnosed with breast cancer, scheduled to undergo chemotherapy or radiation, were assigned randomly to an experimental (N = 10) or control group (N = 10). Outcome measures included TCI (3-day food diary), percentBF (skinfolds), and fatigue (revised Piper Fatigue Scale). Each exercise session was conducted as follows: initial cardiovascular activity (6-12 min), followed by stretching (5-10 min), resistance training (15-30 min), and a cool-down (approximately 8 min). Significant changes in TCI were observed among groups (F1,18 = 8.582; P = 0.009), at treatments 2 and 3, and at the end of the study [experimental (1973 ± 419), control (1488 ± 418); experimental (1946 ± 437), control (1436 ± 429); experimental (2315 ± 455), control (1474 ± 294), respectively]. A significant negative correlation was found (Spearman rho(18) = -0.759; P < 0.001) between TCI and percentBF and between TCI and fatigue levels (Spearman rho(18) = -0.541; P = 0.014) at the end of the study. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that an exercise intervention administered to breast cancer patients undergoing medical treatment may assist in the mitigation of some treatment side effects, including decreased TCI, increased fatigue, and negative changes in body composition.