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Background Supplemental oxygen is a recommended therapy option in stable hypoxemic COPD patients. Often, supplemental oxygen is provided by continuous flow (CF). However, demand oxygen delivery systems (DODS) that provide an oxygen bolus only during inspiration have gained increasing use as they prolong oxygen cylinder life (beside battery life). However, there is a lack of evidence if different DODS and CF devices are equivalent. Methods Seventy hypoxemic COPD patients (FEV1 32 ± 9% predicted, PaO2 56±7 mmHg) on long-term oxygen therapy were included in this prospective single-blinded, randomized cross-over trial. Following an initial incremental shuttle walk test, patients performed 3 endurance shuttle walk tests (ESWT) at 85% of their maximum walking speed in random order with: (A) CF (ESWT-CF), (B) a DODS based on liquid oxygen (ESWT-DL) and (C) an DODS oxygen concentrator (ESWT-DC). The primary outcome was oxygen saturation (SpO2) at ESWT isotime. Secondary outcomes were total ESWT duration, heart rate (HR) and breathing frequency (BF) at isotime and dyspnea at end-exercise. Results SpO2 at ESWT isotime was not clinically different between devices: 90 ± 4% (CF), 89 ± 5% (DL) and 90 ± 5% (DC). However, 20% of the patients showed a ≥4% lower oxygen desaturation while using a DODS device. Secondary outcomes were similar under the three conditions. Conclusion Oxygen supplementation via DODS (based on liquid oxygen or as a concentrator) yielded comparable physiological effects during standardized walking in stable hypoxemic COPD patients like CF. However, 20% of patients showed a clinically relevant lower oxygen saturation while using a DODS device. Therefore, we suggest individual testing of oxygen saturation of DODS suitability.

Background Several studies have shown that whole-body vibration training (WBVT) improves exercise capacity in patients with severe COPD. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of improved exercise capacity following WBVT. Methods Seventy-four COPD patients (FEV1: 34 ± 9%predicted) were recruited during a 3-week inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program. Conventional endurance and strength exercises were supplemented with self-paced dynamic squat training sessions (4bouts*2min, 3times/wk). Patients were randomly allocated to either a WBVT-group performing squat training on a side-alternating vibration platform (Galileo) at a high intensity (24–26 Hz) or a control group performing squat training without WBVT. Results Patients in the WBVT group significantly improved postural balance in several domains compared to the control-group (i.e. tandem stance: WBVT +20% (95%CI 14 to 26) vs. control −10% (95%CI 6 to 15), p Conclusions Implementation of WBVT improves postural balance performance and muscle power output. The neuromuscular adaptation related to improved balance performance may be an important mechanism of the improvement in exercise capacity after WBVT especially in COPD patients with impaired balance performance and low exercise capacity.

Summary Introduction Objective of this study was to validate an activity monitor (DynaPort MoveMonitor [MM], McRoberts, The Hague, The Netherlands) against night-vision video analysis during sleep. Methods Twenty patients (65 ± 11 years old, mean body-mass-index: 27 ± 6 kg/m 2 ) with different chronic lung diseases were recruited to participate in this validation study. Patients performed a polysomnography measurement during one single night while wearing the MM. The activity monitor data of the MM were then validated against the analysis of the night-vision video by an independent investigator. In total, four different lying positions (supine, left, right and prone), sitting upright, out of bed as well as large, medium, small and sitting transitions were classified. Results A mean duration of 7.6 ± 0.9 h per night of video and MM classification was available for analysis. In total, 702 different postures were registered on the video from which 678 postures (96.6%) were detected correctly by the MM compared to the video classification. These results yielded a total degree of sensitivity of 93.9% and specificity 94.9% in detecting postures during the night. In total, 682 transitions (394 small, 189 medium, 15 large and 84 sitting transitions) were detected of which 482 were also detected by the MM. The MM detected 70% of the transitions correctly (51.0% small, 97.4% medium, 100% large and 97.6% sitting transitions). Conclusion The MM is an activity monitor showing a high degree of sensitivity and specificity to detect different nocturnal postures as well as medium and large sized transitions in patients with chronic respiratory disorders.

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) has been shown to improve exercise tolerance and health-related quality of life in patients with advanced COPD. This study tested the feasibility of nocturnal NIPPV as an additional tool in a hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation program. This prospective observational trial included forty COPD patients in GOLD stage IV. NIPPV was successfully introduced and accepted during sleep by all patients. All patients received pressure support ventilation for 7.9+/-0.5h per day with an inspiratory support of 17.5+/-4.4 cmH(2)O, and an expiratory pressure of 4.5+/-0.9 cmH(2)O. The outcome of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients receiving nocturnal NIPPV was compared with the results of forty matched control patients who underwent the same program. Rehabilitation with nocturnal NIPPV resulted in the 6-minute walk test and in the longest non-stop walk distance in improvements of 82 and 89 m, respectively, while patients without nocturnal ventilatory support improved by 50 and 51 m (p0.04 and p0.03 between groups, respectively). Further significant improvements were found for FEV(1), lung hyperinflation, and blood gases in the NIPPV treated, but not in the control subjects. Health-related quality of life, assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire, improved moderately or largely in patients receiving NIPPV in the categories role-physical, vitality, social function, and mental health. Control subjects improved moderately in vitality only. In conclusion, nocturnal NIPPV is feasible and enhances the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in advanced stage COPD.