[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.