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Functional impairment caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) impacts on activities of daily living and quality of life. Indeed, patients' submaximal exercise capacity is of crucial importance. It was the aim of this study to investigate the effects of an exercise training intervention with and without supplemental oxygen on submaximal exercise performance. This is a secondary analysis of a randomized, controlled, double‐blind, crossover trial. 29 COPD patients (63.5 ± 5.9 years; FEV1 46.4 ± 8.6%) completed two consecutive 6‐week periods of high‐intensity interval cycling and strength training, which was performed three times/week with either supplemental oxygen or medical air (10 L/min). Submaximal exercise capacity as well as the cardiocirculatory, ventilatory, and metabolic response were evaluated at isotime (point of termination in the shortest cardiopulmonary exercise test), at physical work capacity at 110 bpm of heart rate (PWC 110), at the anaerobic threshold (AT), and at the lactate‐2 mmol/L threshold. After 12 weeks of exercise training, patients improved in exercise tolerance, shown by decreased cardiocirculatory (heart rate, blood pressure) and metabolic (respiratory exchange ratio, lactate) effort at isotime; ventilatory response was not affected. Submaximal exercise capacity was improved at PWC 110, AT and the lactate‐2 mmol/L threshold, respectively. Although supplemental oxygen seems to affect patients' work rate at AT and the lactate‐2 mmol/L threshold, no other significant effects were found. The improved submaximal exercise capacity and tolerance might counteract patients' functional impairment. Although cardiovascular and metabolic training adaptations were shown, ventilatory efficiency remained essentially unchanged. The impact of supplemental oxygen seems less important on submaximal training effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Evidence supporting the association of COPD or airflow obstruction with use of solid fuels is conflicting and inconsistent.Objective: To assess the association of airflow obstruction with self-reported use of solid fuels for cooking or heating.Methods: We analysed 18,554 adults from the BOLD study, who had provided acceptable post-bronchodilator spirometry measurements and information on use of solid fuels. The association of airflow obstruction with use of solid fuels for cooking or heating was assessed by sex, within each site, using regression analysis. Estimates were stratified by national income and meta-analysed. We carried out similar analyses for spirometric restriction, chronic cough and chronic phlegm.Measurements and Main Results: We found no association between airflow obstruction and use of solid fuels for cooking or heating (ORmen=1.20, 95%CI 0.94-1.53; ORwomen=0.88, 95%CI 0.67-1.15). This was true for low/middle and high income sites. Among never smokers there was also no evidence of an association of airflow obstruction with use of solid fuels (ORmen=1.00, 95%CI 0.57-1.76; ORwomen=1.00, 95%CI 0.76-1.32). Overall, we found no association of spirometric restriction, chronic cough or chronic phlegm with the use of solid fuels. However, we found that chronic phlegm was more likely to be reported among female never smokers and those who had been exposed for ≥20 years.Conclusion: Airflow obstruction assessed from post-bronchodilator spirometry was not associated with use of solid fuels for cooking or heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutritional status has been associated with clinical outcome in chronic airflow limitation (CAL), but epidemiological studies are scarce. We aimed to assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and CAL, taking into account confounding factors. 18,606 participants (49% male, 21% smokers, mean age: 55.8 ± 11.2 years, mean BMI: 26.7 ± 5.5 kg/m2) of the BOLD initiative from 26 sites in 23 countries were included. CAL was defined as post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity < lower limit of normal. Low and obese BMI were defined as <21 kg/m2 and ≥30 kg/m2, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis controlled for confounders age, sex and smoking, and meta-analysis of between-site heterogeneity and clustering. Prevalence of low and obese BMI, smoking history and prevalence of CAL were highly variable between sites. After adjustment for confounders, the meta-analysis of all sites showed that compared to subjects without CAL, low BMI was more frequent, (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.23 (95% confidence interval: 1.75, 2.85)) and conversely, obesity was less frequent in subjects with CAL (adjusted OR: 0.78 (0.65, 0.94)). In a worldwide population sample, CAL was associated with lower BMI, even after adjusting for confounding factors age, gender, smoking and between-site heterogeneity. These results indicate a CAL-specific association with body composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health burden and profoundly affects individuals suffering from the disease. However, the majority of subjects with COPD are still undiagnosed. Objectives: To evaluate COPD prevalence and detection strategies for COPD in the primary-care setting. Methods: The study was conducted in a random sample of general practitioner (GP) offices in Salzburg (Austria). A questionnaire and post-bronchodilator (PBD) spirometry was administered to patients aged ≥40 years. Nonreversible airway obstruction was considered when PBD FEV1/FVC was <0.70. Severity of spirometrically defined COPD was graded according to the GOLD recommendations. Results: 60 GP offices were randomly selected for study participation, however only 30 (50.0%) were willing to participate. 1,230 of 9,820 (12.52%) patients consented to the protocol. Quality of PBD spirometry was evaluated, and 882 (71.7%) met ATS/ERS quality criteria. 7.5% (95% CI: 5.7-9.4%) of the patients had COPD grade II+ (FEV1/FVC <0.7 and FEV1 <80% of predicted), but only 22.4% of them reported a prior physician's diagnosis of COPD. Similar results were seen for the 2005 Salzburg BOLD (Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease) sample with regard to COPD GOLD II+ prevalence (10.7%) and proportion of underdiagnosis (82.3%). Conclusion: COPD in the primary-care setting is as prevalent and underdiagnosed as reported recently for the BOLD study. The surprisingly low participation rate of GPs and patients indicates that prevention of COPD is not a health priority, and that awareness for COPD has to heightened before case-finding strategies will be successful. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current guidelines recommend spirometry to confirm a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Aims: To investigate whether a self-reported diagnosis of COPD is associated with prior spirometry and whether a correct diagnosis of COPD is more likely when spirometry was performed. Methods: We used data from the population-based Austrian Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study. Participants were aged >40 years and completed post-bronchodilator spirometry. Reported COPD diagnosis and reported prior lung function test were based on questionnaire. Persistent airflow limitation was defined as post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity ratio <0.7, corresponding with COPD Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grade 1+, and GOLD grade 11+ was also investigated. A correct diagnosis of COPD was defined as a reported physician's diagnosis of COPD and the presence of persistent airflow limitation. Results: 68 (5.4%) of 1,258 participants reported a prior physician's diagnosis of COPD. Of these, only 17 (25.0%) reported a lung function test within the past 12 months and 46 (67.6%) at any time in the past. The likelihood for a correct COPD GOLD grade 1+ diagnosis was similar among subjects reporting a lung function test during the last 12 months (likelihood ratio 2.07, 95% Cl 0.89 to 5.50) and those not reporting a lung function during the last 12 months (likelihood ratio 2.78, 95% Cl 1.58 to 4.87). Similar likelihood ratios were seen when GOLD grade 11+ was investigated and when lung function was reported at any time in the past. Conclusions: One-third of subjects with a reported diagnosis of COPD never had a lung function test. When spirometry was reported, this did not increase the likelihood of a correct COPD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing worldwide and thus its associated morbidity and mortality. However, COPD often goes undiagnosed. Objectives: We evaluated the rate of non-diagnosed irreversible airway obstruction (AO) and characterized this patient group. We further assessed the possible effects of conducting targeted spirometry in a population sample in Salzburg, Austria, as part of the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study. Methods: 1,258 adults ≥40 years of age completed a questionnaire and performed spirometry before and after bronchodilator therapy (post-BD). Irreversible AO was defined as post-BD FEV1/FVC below the lower limit of normal; we used the FEV1% predicted (pred.) to further grade the disease. Participants without a physician diagnosis of COPD who reported respiratory symptoms and a history of risk factors (ever smoking or occupational risk) were defined as eligible for targeted spirometry. Results: 85.9% (171/199) of the participants with irreversible AO did not report a prior diagnosis of COPD. Non-diagnosed AO was inversely related to severity, age, self-reported prior respiratory diseases and cough as a respiratory symptom. 343 participants were eligible for targeted spirometry and irreversible AO was present in 86 (25.1%) participants. Therefore, targeted spirometry could reduce the underdiagnosis of irreversible AO of any severity by 50.3% (86 of 171). The diagnosis of 1 person with FEV1 <80% pred. would require spirometry in 8.4 subjects (95% confidence interval 6.2-11.1). Conclusion: Although several factors are associated with non-diagnosed AO, spirometry in individuals with respiratory symptoms and exposure to risk factors could reduce undiagnosed irreversible AO by half. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Exercise training is a cornerstone of the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, whereas the related interindividual heterogeneity in skeletal muscle dysfunction and adaptations are not yet fully understood. We set out to investigate the effects of exercise training and supplemental oxygen on functional and structural peripheral muscle adaptation. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study, 28 patients with nonhypoxemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, 45.92% ± 9.06%) performed 6 wk of combined endurance and strength training, three times a week while breathing either supplemental oxygen or medical air. The impact on exercise capacity, muscle strength, and quadriceps femoris muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) was assessed by maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing, 10-repetition maximum strength test of knee extension, and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Results: After exercise training, patients demonstrated a significant increase in functional capacity, aerobic capacity, exercise tolerance, quadriceps muscle strength, and bilateral CSA. Supplemental oxygen affected significantly the training impact on peak work rate when compared with medical air (+0.20 ± 0.03 vs +0.12 ± 0.03 W·kg--1, P = 0.047); a significant increase in CSA (+3.9 ± 1.3 cm2, P = 0.013) was only observed in the training group using oxygen. Supplemental oxygen and exercise-induced peripheral desaturation were identified as significant opposing determinants of muscle gain during this exercise training intervention, which led to different adaptations of CSA between the respective subgroups. Conclusions: The heterogenous functional and structural muscle adaptations seem determined by supplemental oxygen and exercise-induced hypoxia. Indeed, supplemental oxygen may facilitate muscular training adaptations, particularly in limb muscle dysfunction, thereby contributing to the enhanced training responses on maximal aerobic and functional capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exercise training is a cornerstone of the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in all disease stages. Data about the training effects with supplemental oxygen in nonhypoxemic patients remains inconclusive. In this study we set out to investigate the training and oxygen effects on inflammatory markers, vascular function, and endothelial progenitor cells in this population of increased cardiovascular risk.Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 29 patients with nonhypoxemic COPD performed combined endurance and strength training 3 times a week while breathing medical air or supplemental oxygen for the first 6-week period, and were then reallocated to the opposite gas for the following 6 weeks. Exercise capacity, inflammatory biomarkers, endothelial function (peripheral arterial tone analysis), and endothelial progenitor cells were assessed. Data were also analyzed for a subgroup with endothelial dysfunction (reactive hyperemia index <1.67).Results: Following 12 weeks of exercise training, patients demonstrated a significant improvement of peak work rate and an associated decrease of blood fibrinogen and leptin. Eosinophils were found significantly reduced after exercise training in patients with endothelial dysfunction. In this subgroup, peripheral arterial tone analysis revealed a significant improvement of reactive hyperemia index. Generally, late endothelial progenitor cells were found significantly reduced after the exercise training intervention. Supplemental oxygen during training positively influenced the effect on exercise capacity without impact on inflammation and endothelial function.Conclusions: This is the first randomized controlled trial in patients with COPD to show beneficial effects of exercise training not only on exercise capacity, but also on systemic/eosinophilic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether different breathing conditions during exercise testing will influence measures of exercise capacity commonly used for training prescription in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Twenty-seven patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in 1 sec = 45.6[9.4]%) performed three maximal exercise tests within 8 days, but at least 48 hrs apart. Subjects were thereby breathing either room air through a tightly fitting face mask like during any cardiopulmonary exercise test (MASK), room air without mask (No-MASK), or 10 l/min of oxygen via nasal cannula (No-MASK + O2). Cycling protocols were identical for all tests (start = 20 watts, increment = 10 males/5 females watts/min). Maximal work rate (90.4[33.8], 100.3[34.8], 107.4[35.9] watts, P < 0.001) and blood lactate at exhaustion (4.3[1.5], 5.2[1.6], 5.0[1.4]mmol/l, P < 0.001) were lowest for MASK when compared with No-MASK and No-MASK + O2, respectively, whereas maximal heart rate did not differ significantly. Submaximal exertion (Borg rating of perceived exertion = 12-14) was perceived at lower intensity (P = 0.008), but higher heart rate (P = 0.005) when MASK was compared with No-MASK and No-MASK + O2. Different breathing conditions during exercise testing resulted in an 18.8% difference in maximal work rate, likely causing underdosing or overdosing of exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Face masks reduced whereas supplemental oxygen increased patients' exercise capacity. For accurate prescription of exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, breathing conditions during testing should closely match training conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]