24 Sep Latest Research on COPD and Exercise Tolerance
In research presented at the American Thoracic Society annual conference in Dallas in May 2019, the Pulmonary Education and Research Foundation and LA BioMed shared their most recent findings on pulmonary care and exercise tolerance.
In a collaborative study by leading pharmaceutical companies, University Academics, the COPD Foundation, and the FDA, Dr Casaburi presented details of an exercise test that can be used for FDA qualification for new therapies that target the increase of exercise tolerance in COPD patients. Specifically, this is noteworthy because until now there is no drug or other therapy available in the USA that is designed expressly to increase exercise tolerance in COPD patients.
The study evaluated about 4,000 COPD patients and showed that a constant work rate endurance time is a sensitive measure of exercise capacity. Interestingly, the study also showed that exercise tolerance is increased by bronchodilator therapy only in severe COPD patients.
On the other hand, the increase in exercise tolerance that follows pulmonary rehabilitation were greater than those for bronchodilators but also equally beneficial for all COPD severities, including mild to very severe.
A presentation by Dr Rossiter shared results of a randomized controlled trial to test whether a new drug designed to reduce muscle fatigue was beneficial to increase exercise tolerance and reduce the activity of the breathing muscles in COPD patients. As part of the study, he used the constant work rate exercise test presented by Dr. Casaburi to evaluate the drug. The study was conducted at two sites in the USA, LA BioMed and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Unfortunately, with 46 volunteers the findings did not increase exercise tolerance in COPD. Nevertheless, this is the first ever study to investigate the effect of a muscle-targeted drug on exercise endurance with hopes of more in the future.
The Muscle Health Study results, presented by Dr Rossiter, used 245 volunteers at the LA BioMed. Specifically, the study measured how well the muscles of smokers with and without COPD can use oxygen to fuel exercise. The muscles of severe COPD patients were 40% less likely to use oxygen than those under control. In addition, the study found that the subjects with limitations in muscle oxygen actually had increased blood lipids. Given these points, the authors speculate because muscles use lipids and oxygen to fuel metabolism and severe COPD muscles oxygen may lead to a build-up of lipids in the blood which in return promote cardiovascular disease and inflammation. Currently, the scientists at LA BioMed continue to follow up on these findings.
To learn more about COPD and exercise, visit PERF.
Joseph Joven
Posted at 09:39h, 24 JanuaryI am 58 years old , in 2011 I was diagnosed with COPD. I do an hour of exercise everyday I can and the rest of my day is so much more tolerable. For normal people you would expect some gains or improvement ! But when your result is not improving when your muscle is can be depressing! And if you don’t push your pulmanologist to try different medications and combinations and track your results, you will be just settling for good enough or bearable results.
I have resided to say the first half of my life I have tried things my way and it was a lot of fun! But the next half is a different approach , challenge and I am up to it . Try it
PERF
Posted at 10:46h, 27 JanuaryDear Joseph,
Before I write anything else I want to congratulate you on your exercise regime! I’ll bet that even your friends and family without COPD are also impressed. It is hard to answer your email since I am not sure I correctly understand all of it. I also am not sure how damaged your lungs are or what symptoms you are still having that are apparently still making you miserable. I think you are saying that, with exercise, you want the improvement of your COPD to match the improvement in your muscle tone. I don’t blame you. Sadly, no pill, and no amount of exercise, can make your lungs normal again. But exercise CAN decrease sputum production (helping your lung function), increase your sense of well being, and help prevent further damage or deterioration.
As for the pills and inhalers you want from your doctor; Yes, they can help, but they are not the answer you are looking for. All recent research shows that exercise training is more beneficial than any pill or combination of pills! What you are doing right now with your exercise regime, is the one of the very best things you can do to help your overall health. That doesn’t mean there are not others things that can also help improve your quality of life, but a good exercise regime is proven to help everything from lowering breathing difficulty to reducing anxiety and depression.
I highly recommend that you discuss a referral to a pulmonary rehabilitation program with your pulmonologist. Any staff would love a patient as motivated as you. You would be their star! In turn, you would learn how to improve many of the symptoms you may still have that exercise and pills alone can’t help.
Best wishes, and keep on exercising!
Mary Burns RN, BS