Time to adapt exercise training regimens in pulmonary rehabilitation – a review of the literature

Introduction to pulmonary rehabilitation and its impact on COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible condition, characterized by airflow limitation and chronic inflammation of the airways.¹ The clinical profile includes dyspnea, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and diminished physical activity (PA), contributing to a poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL).¹ Physiological impairments include respiratory and skeletal muscle dysfunction,² together with sleep disruption³ and symptoms of anxiety and depression^4,5 are often observed. The heterogeneous nature of COPD is further illustrated by variable body composition abnormalities and nutritional deficits⁶ as well as other concurrent medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis.^7,8 Other complications may be greater deficits in balance and postural control.⁹ People with COPD frequently experience acute exacerbations (AE), with increased dyspnea, worsening fatigue, decline in lung function,¹⁰ and acute reductions in PA¹¹ commonly detected. Diminished PA is linked to an increased risk of readmission and mortality,¹² and has been identified as the strongest predictor of survival in stable COPD.¹³ AE and subsequent hospitalization are the leading causes of significant morbidity and mortality.¹

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a cornerstone of management of COPD. It is defined as a “comprehensive intervention based on a thorough patient assessment followed by patient-tailored therapies that include, but are not limited to, exercise training, education and behaviour change, designed to improve the physical and psychological condition of people with chronic respiratory disease and to promote the long-term adherence to health-enhancing behaviours”.⁶ The aim of exercise prescription in PR is to address the multiple contributors to exercise limitation, including ventilatory and cardiovascular limitations, gas exchange abnormalities, and peripheral and respiratory muscle changes. These physiological changes manifest as reduced exercise capacity leading to impairment in functional status,^14,15 as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Multi-factorial nature of exercise limitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

As an interdisciplinary intervention that aims to improve physical well-being while enhancing disease management, PR is advocated irrespective of the stage of lung disease. Functional improvements and physiological adaptations have been achieved in patients whose Global Initiative on Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage ranged from II to IV.¹⁶ Patients classified with mild COPD also gain significant clinical improvements.¹⁷ The broad beneficial effects of PR on patient-centered outcomes are accompanied by long-term outcomes such as reduced exacerbation frequency and decreased hospital admissions.¹⁸

The benefits and outcomes associated with PR are well accepted, with PR forming part of standard care for COPD.¹ However, despite large and clinically meaningful improvements in clinical trials, it is recognized that there is some heterogeneity in response between individuals, with some people not achieving meaningful improvements.¹⁹ There are also challenges associated with low program uptake and adherence. With PR, a long-term treatment for this complex condition, there is a clear need to optimize approaches to exercise training and models of PR to maximize the benefits for an individual’s clinical presentation.

This review examines the evidence underlying the effectiveness of exercise training regimens and program models for PR for patients with COPD. The short and long-term benefits linked to conducting exercise programs and the possible strategies for improving overall HRQOL in this context are also outlined. Some limitations and challenges with optimizing training program uptake will be discussed.

Review of evidence supporting the effectiveness of training regimens as part of PR

Endurance training

Exercise training in the form of endurance and resistance training is recognized as the optimal approach for improving muscle function in COPD. Key principles of endurance exercise prescription for COPD incorporate frequency, intensity, duration, type, and mode.²⁰ To optimally prescribe endurance training, an exercise test is completed prior to training commencement. Cardiopulmonary exercise tests (treadmill or cycle), using an incremental or constant work rate protocol²¹ are undertaken to provide physiological measurements of exercise limitations and appropriate training load. Other options are field walking tests, including the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), incremental shuttle walk test or endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT). The peak work rate, peak exercise/walking capacity, peak oxygen uptake (VO₂ peak) or heart rate at the gas exchange threshold derived from these tests are used to set endurance exercise prescription.^6,21

The recommended frequency for targeting skeletal muscle physiological adaptations and achieving benefits is a minimum of 3 times per week, with a mix of supervised and unsupervised sessions, for a duration of 8 weeks.²¹ High intensity training, defined as greater than 60% of maximal work rate for a duration of 20 to 60 minutes²² is associated with greater benefits compared to lower intensity. The selection of this intensity is based on the rationale for addressing skeletal muscle weakness, with a sufficient anabolic stimulus required to target the skeletal muscle’s oxidative capacity.²³ In patients with COPD, a target level for symptoms of dyspnea of 4 to 6 (moderate to very severe) or rating of perceived exertion of 12 to 14 (somewhat hard) is considered to reflect an appropriate training intensity.^6,21

There have been multiple studies and meta-analyses of PR in COPD examining the effects of this exercise prescription.²⁴ The most common modes of endurance training tested in COPD are walking (ground-based or treadmill walking) and stationary cycling.^25,26 This type of exercise is associated with improvement in maximal exercise capacity following endurance training, reflected by increased VO₂ peak and peak work rate^22,25,27,28 and greater endurance capacity²⁹ for treadmill-based tests²⁹ and cycle ergometry.^29,30 The improvement in aerobic metabolism of skeletal muscles^22,31 reduces the ventilation requirements for a given workload, which is reflected by reduced dyspnea and greater tolerance of daily activities.²²

Endurance training positively influences other patient-centered outcomes, including functional exercise capacity and HRQOL. Improved distances in field walking tests, including the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD),³⁰ beyond the minimal important difference of 25 to 35 m^32,33 have been consistently demonstrated. Similarly, positive changes in the incremental shuttle walk test³⁴ and ESWT^35,36 are evident. Overall, the effect of initial outpatient PR programs on HRQOL is positive^1,24,37,38 and is frequently accompanied by a reduction in anxiety and depression.³⁹ Similar results are achieved with PR initiated immediately post-AE.¹⁸ More recently, improvement has been noted in measures of health status according to the COPD assessment test.^40,41

From a practical perspective, the mode of endurance training may be important. Ground-based walking (applied at an intensity of 75% peak walking capacity) is equally beneficial compared to cycling (intensity of 60% peak work capacity) in improving both peak walking and cycling capacity but achieves a greater ESWT time.³⁵ This, together with the minimal equipment for ground-based walking supports the option for endurance training for a broader population of patients,⁴² particularly in the absence of other training modes.

Interval training

It is well recognized that not all individuals with COPD are able to perform high intensity training, due to intolerable dyspnea, peripheral fatigue or anxiety,⁴³ which can influence the achievement of a physiological training effect over the course of a program.²⁵ Interval training is used as an alternative mode that may be better tolerated. Interval training consists of periods of high-intensity exercise (20 seconds to 3 minutes) interspersed with either rest or lower intensity training (30 seconds to 3 minutes). This approach imposes a maximal load on peripheral muscles without engagement of anaerobic metabolism,^43–45 enabling exercise to be undertaken with more favorable cardiorespiratory responses.⁴⁵

This training mode is an alternative for patients with severe COPD, whose tolerance of high work rates is limited to less than 5 minutes.⁴⁶ Interval training during cycling or walking avoids the need for prolonged rest periods, therefore minimizing the interruption of exercise flow, and is able to be completed with less dyspnea and leg fatigue^43–46 whilst achieving muscle adaptations equivalent to continuous training.¹⁶ A systematic review found that interval and continuous training resulted in similar improvements for VO₂ peak, 6MWD, and HRQOL following training completion.⁴⁷ Achieving comparable benefits is dependent on the same amount of work being performed for both training modes,^43,48 as total work is an important determinant of training response.

Resistance training

Resistance training is an essential component of PR, which focuses on the activation of local muscle groups in repetitive lifting exercises of relatively high load.^2,49,50 Commonly targeted muscle groups and options for resistance training in PR are outlined in Table 1.⁵¹ Overall improvement in muscle strength is achieved with both upper and lower limb resistance training.^49,52,53 even when resistance training was applied in conjunction with aerobic training,⁴⁹ a common approach in most PR programs. This increased muscle strength is reflected by improved performance of functional activities^49,53 particularly when exercises closely replicate daily activities.

Table 1 Lower and upper limb muscle groups targeted for resistance training and options for exercise

The impact of upper limb training on dyspnea levels during domestic activities and upon HRQOL is less encouraging, with no significant reduction in breathlessness in either supported or unsupported training.⁵⁴ To positively influence dyspnea levels, a longer duration of training (greater than 8 weeks) may be necessary.⁵³ This lack of impact on dyspnea may also be related to the dual role of upper limb musculature as an accessory to respiration. In COPD, when unsupported arms are raised above shoulder height, the ability of the upper limb muscles to support the shoulder girdle and participate in daily tasks is compromised by the need to support respiration.⁵⁵ To achieve a reduction in dyspnea with upper limb training, the specific breathing pattern during these tasks may be significant. A recent study of patients with severe COPD and hyperinflation undertook a constant load arm lifting task to symptom intolerance and were randomly assigned to either inhale during the lift, exhale during the lift or unconstrained breathing.⁵⁶ The breathing strategy of exhaling during the lift was associated with significantly greater endurance of the task.⁵⁶ This approach could be easily adopted for upper limb resistance training to maximize performance, which may translate into reduced symptoms over a longer training duration.

When resistance training (incorporating upper and lower limb exercises) is compared to endurance training alone or a combination of both, the improvement in maximal working capacity during an incremental cycle test and HRQOL was similar between all forms of exercise.⁵⁷ The lower oxygen consumption and dyspnea scores⁵⁶ provoked during resistance training suggest that for patients who are limited in their ability to undertake endurance training in either a continuous or interval mode, resistance training may be as effective, but better tolerated.⁵⁸

The prescription for resistance training is based on the principles of one-repetition maximum. This is defined as the maximum load which can be moved once only over the full range of motion without compensatory movements.⁵⁰ For patients with COPD, the recommended prescription is 1 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions on 2 or 3 days per week,⁵⁰ with loads ranging from 60% to 70% of the one repetition maximum or a load that provokes fatigue following 8 to 12 repetitions.² The principle of overload is critical, with increase in loads over time required to maximize training gains.

A number of resistance training studies have used expensive gym-based equipment, which may not be accessible in all PR settings. An alternative is the use of elastic tubing, which has been recently compared to traditional resistance equipment. A greater improvement in the 6MWD (73 m versus 42 m, P<0.05) was achieved with elastic tube training, although both types were equally effective in improving muscle strength and HRQOL.⁵⁹ For this reason, elastic tubing may be a practical option when access to free weights or specialized resistance equipment is limited or unavailable. In addition, this mode may be more readily translated to a home exercise program.

Advanced exercise prescription models

Traditional approaches to exercise training in COPD have used simple exercise prescription, with gradual increases in load over time. More sophisticated approaches which have been applied in healthy sedentary and trained individuals may give rise to better outcomes.⁶⁰ One of these approaches is periodization. Periodization or variation in training involves the manipulation of training variables to maximize adaptations, minimize overtraining, and attain a training effect.⁶⁰ Non-linear periodized exercise training is characterized by training intensity, duration, and repetition-volume which are altered frequently and interspersed with adequate recovery for optimizing performance during endurance and resistance training.⁶⁰ This approach has been recently investigated in patients with severe COPD.⁶¹ Over a 10 week course, patients trained with traditional endurance and resistance training or non-linear periodized training (with a variation of aerobic cycle training combined with high-volume, low intensity resistance training and anaerobic cycling with low-volume, moderate to high intensity resistance training). Greater statistical and clinically significant improvement in cycle endurance (by 300 seconds) and all domains of HRQOL, including dyspnea and fatigue was achieved with non-linear periodized training compared to traditional prescription.⁶¹ While this method requires more exploration in COPD, these preliminary results suggest it may have positive outcomes. Specialist equipment is not required, but the exercise prescription is more complex than current models and clinicians would require specific training in establishing individual exercise recommendations and modes of progression for effective delivery.

One-legged training or partitioning

An alternative method to enhance the beneficial effects from endurance training whilst minimizing the ventilatory load can be achieved via partitioning exercise to a smaller muscle group, while maintaining the same muscle load. One-legged cycling has been explored as a mode of partitioning. During a constant power exercise test, compared to two-legged cycling (intensity of 70% peak power), one-legged cycling (intensity of 35% two-legged peak power) induced an equivalent metabolic demand, at a lower minute ventilation and less dyspnea.⁶² This novel approach may enhance the effectiveness of endurance training in COPD, with patients able to increase their work capacity. When applied for 7 weeks, three times weekly, a greater increase in VO₂ peak was achieved with one-legged cycling group (15 minutes per leg) versus the two-legged cycling (30 minutes in total) group.⁶³ Practically, this approach may require patients to initially perform an incremental cycle ergometer test to set the target intensity. Intensity is then progressed once the duration (30 minutes total) was achieved. The training requires a suitable (fixed wheel/non-free wheeling or counterweight on the inactive pedal) cycle ergometer, with patients resting their inactive foot on the crossbar located midway on the head of the ergometer cycle during the one-legged mode. While considered by patients to be comfortable and accepted without need for any position adjustment, the availability of these types of cycle ergometers within PR programs may influence the selection of patients for whom this mode of training is available.

Inspiratory muscle training

Respiratory muscle weakness has been observed in COPD, and is related to increased dyspnea, gas exchange abnormalities, and reduced exercise tolerance.⁶⁴ This has led to interest in strategies to improve the respiratory muscle strength or endurance. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) using a threshold or resistive load is the most common approach, with the prescription generally based on the maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) is commonly used to improve inspiratory muscle strength.⁶⁵ To measure PImax, a patient breathes through a mouthpiece, with a firm lip seal to prevent glottis closure during a maximum inspiratory maneuver. The patient exhales slowly to residual volume, then inhales maximally, maintaining an inspiratory pressure for at least 1.5 seconds, so that the maximum pressure can be recorded. This maneuver is repeated five times, with encouragement, with 1 minute rest between each measurement.⁶⁶ While the optimal training intensity is not known, and has ranged from 15% to 80% of PImax, an initial resistance greater than 30% of PImax is recommended and is increased in a stepwise manner.⁶⁶ While the optimal duration is uncertain, the majority of studies provided a total exercise time of 30 to 60 minutes per day, with sessions often split into 2 or 3 sessions,⁶⁶ for an average of 3 to 7 days per week. IMT significantly improved inspiratory muscle strength and endurance and reduced dyspnea.^66,67 However, when added to a standard whole-body exercise program in PR, no additional benefit for HRQOL or exercise capacity was observed. For patients with significant respiratory muscle weakness, defined as a PImax less than 60 cmH₂O, it is possible that IMT is an optimal addition to exercise training, particularly if the respiratory muscle deficits are significantly impacting on endurance or resistance training. This however, would require careful assessment of respiratory muscle function prior to implementation.

Balance training

Balance training is emerging as an adjunct to traditional PR training regimens. Balance deficits and postural control alterations are linked to an increased risk of falling and fear of falling in COPD.^9,68 In a preliminary study of balance training for 6 weeks during inpatient rehabilitation in patients with severe COPD, the intervention group received circuit training including stance exercises, gait, transition, and functional strengthening, in addition to routine endurance and strength training, while the comparison group received traditional PR.⁶⁹ Improvement in the clinical measures of balance of the Berg Balance Scale, Balance Evaluation Systems Test, and self-reported physical function was seen only following balance-specific training.^69,70 While this is a preliminary study conducted among inpatients, the positive outcomes lend support to the possible role of balance training for those with COPD who are at risk of falls.

Strategies to optimize and maintain outcomes for people with COPD

Following completion of an initial PR program, improvement in exercise capacity and HRQOL are evident,²⁴ however it has been reported that these improvements may diminish over time. Sustaining these gains is fundamental to ensuring long-term well-being in people with COPD. Although the ideal approach to achieve this has not been identified, there are a number of possible strategies which may be applied.

Adjuncts to exercise training

Supplemental oxygen therapy during exercise training

For patients already prescribed long-term oxygen therapy at the commencement of PR, this should be continued during exercise training, with titration of flow rates to maintain adequate oxygenation. When applied specifically for the purposes of exercise training in PR, study findings are inconsistent, with reports of patients without exercise-induced desaturation achieving a higher training intensity and greater endurance capacity,⁷¹ while those with exercise-induced desaturation not exhibiting any improvement in exercise capacity or health status.^72,73 For this reason, an unequivocal recommendation for use of supplemental oxygen therapy for patients with COPD during exercise training is currently not warranted. Assessment of desaturation during exercise tolerance testing on room air at baseline, along with individual response to supplemental oxygen, provides guidance as to which individual patients may benefit from oxygen supplementation during exercise training.

Non-invasive ventilation

In patients with COPD, expiratory flow limitation and dynamic hyperinflation during exercise training may increase the work of breathing and has been associated with early termination of exercise at a lower workload.⁷⁴ To unload the respiratory muscles and reduce the work of breathing, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIV) has been applied as an adjunct to training.⁷⁵ A systematic review of patients with severe to very severe COPD found that NIV improved peak exercise (17% improvement) and endurance exercise capacity (59% improvement), which was accompanied by an increase in training intensity by 13% compared to sham NIV, although the effects on functional exercise capacity and HRQOL were less clearly defined.⁷⁶ The application of NIV requires not only additional equipment, but experience in the initial setup, titration of optimal pressures and assisting individual patients to adapt to the intervention during exercise training. For these reasons, its practical use may be reserved for patients who are significantly limited in their ability to achieve a sufficient training intensity during endurance or resistance training due to marked dynamic hyperinflation and intolerable dyspnea.

Program duration

While the optimal length has not been identified, a systematic review suggested that programs of a longer duration (up to 12–18 months) are associated with more favorable outcomes on HRQOL, although the impact on exercise capacity is less clear.⁷⁷ While the current recommendation for a PR program is 8 weeks, the possibility of extending this duration for patients who may require a longer length of time to achieve clinical improvements may be an important consideration.

Program setting

The limited uptake rate of patients attending PR is well described, with less than 5% of patients per year accessing PR.⁷⁸ Practical reasons are program shortage, insufficient health professionals, and patient-related factors, of which the most common reasons are difficulties with transportation and travel.^79–81 Institution-based programs may not be universally appealing and alternative models for PR may be more suitable. Home-based programs have been found to be a safe option, with equivalent improvements in HRQOL and exercise capacity in comparisons of hospital versus home-based groups.⁸² However, to date home-based PR has not been widely adopted into clinical practice, possibly because a sound economic model has not been developed. Further work is required to determine whether home-based PR can deliver good patient-centered outcomes in a cost-effective manner.

Maintenance programs

The ability to maintain improvements in HRQOL and exercise capacity beyond the immediate intervention period may be facilitated by supervised maintenance exercise programs, which could assist in ensuring continuity of training. Maintenance programs may take various forms, including hospital-based and community settings, with frequencies ranging from 3 times per week to once monthly and different training intensities. Aerobic exercise (walking or cycling) is always included, with most including lower and/or upper extremity resistance training.⁸³ A meta-analysis found significant improvement in exercise capacity after undertaking 6 months of training, but this was not sustained at 12 months, and a positive impact on HRQOL was not achieved.⁸³ Despite only medium-term benefits, the ongoing contact with health professionals and the encouragement of a home program may assist in optimizing exercise intensity to maintain a sufficient training stimulus for individual patients. The programs may also provide the opportunity to continually reinforce healthy behavioral messages introduced during an initial program.

Attrition rates remain an issue in maintenance programs⁸³ and like the setting of an initial PR program, program location may be important. While the majority of programs are undertaken within the hospital setting, a recent study of community-based maintenance has been explored.⁸⁴ A twice weekly program for 1 year supervised by fitness consultants at a local community center was found to be a feasible model which preserved the benefits in exercise capacity and HRQOL achieved during an initial, institution-based PR program. This lends support for the more extensive role of maintenance programs within the community, which may be more geographically appealing to patients.

Self-efficacy

A critical factor in sustaining improvements over both the short- and long-term is an individual patient’s approach towards exercise and the need for ongoing health mentoring. Self-efficacy explores both the coping skills of an individual and their emotional function and is believed to be a predictor of health behavior.^85,86 It reflects a person’s belief in their ability to control, organize, undertake, and complete a goal-orientated activity. PR has been reported to improve self-efficacy⁸⁷ being the ideal environment to target coping skills⁸⁸ and to introduce and promote strategies to optimize health behavior. The social support from peers is important to patients and may enhance motivation.⁸⁹ This motivation may be a critical factor in maintaining a physically active lifestyle after PR. With some patients requiring more extensive and frequent support, the ongoing peer support during maintenance and follow-up programs may be pertinent to sustaining self-efficacy over the longer duration.

Repeating PR

In view of the decline in benefits over the longer term, another strategy is PR repetition. There have been 5 studies which have explored the effects of program repetition in COPD,^90–94 with their findings outlined in Table 2. Overall results demonstrated that while program repetition was associated with significant gains in exercise tolerance and HRQOL, the magnitude of improvement did not consistently reach a clinically important threshold. A retrospective study demonstrated that in a clinical program, 20% of patients repeat PR over a period of 9 years.⁹⁴ Patients with a smaller change in mastery following their initial PR program were more likely to repeat, suggesting that if self-efficacy is not effectively addressed in the initial program, the need for PR repetition is likely to be higher. Although the optimal timing around program repetition is unclear, repeating PR may be suitable for patients who are at risk of decline and whose access to maintenance programs is limited. Further study of the role and timing of program repetition is required to answer these questions.

Table 2 Outcomes for exercise capacity and HRQOL of repeated pulmonary rehabilitation program in COPD Notes: All data are recorded as mean (SD) unless otherwise stated; *retrospective study, †RCT, ‡P<0.05. Abbreviations: HRQOL, health-related quality of life; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; RCT, randomized controlled trial; LL, lower limbs; UL, upper limbs; ADL, activities of daily living; NR, not reported; RPR, repeat pulmonary rehabilitation; CRDQ, chronic respiratory disease questionnaire; ppi, points per item; AECOPD, acute exacerbation of COPD; SGRQ, St George’s respiratory questionnaire; EF, emotional function; 6MWD, 6-minute walk distance; SD, standard deviation; vs, versus.

Comorbidities

Physical limitations impair the ability to engage in an active lifestyle.⁸⁹ This was highlighted in a recent study where people with COPD and comorbidities (including obesity, musculoskeletal or neurological conditions) engaged in only 25 minutes of moderate intensity PA compared to 104 minutes in those without comorbidities.⁹⁵ Comorbidities in COPD may have a negative influence on PR outcomes⁹⁶ due to physical restrictions and pain experienced during traditional training programs. One alternative approach may be water-based training. High intensity water-based training was associated with clinically significant improvements in HRQOL activity measures and exercise capacity (179 m versus 25 m) compared to land-based activity in COPD.⁹⁷ This approach may be even more effective for patients with comorbid conditions, with clinically significant improvements in the ESWT and fatigue levels with water-based training compared to land-based activities or control.⁹⁸ Water-based training should be considered as an alternative to traditional land-based programs in any patient in whom physical comorbidities limit the nature or intensity of training.

Benefits of PR across the disease course

The benefits of PR are evident when it is applied across the disease course, including, immediately post AE and in a stable clinical state. A summary of the different modes of exercise training and their levels of evidence in differing clinical states is outlined in Figure 2. Over the longer term, these benefits may translate into reduced health care costs.^6,18

Figure 2 Summary of exercise training options for different clinical stages of COPD and levels of evidence. Note: Levels of evidence are based on NHLBI/WHO Workshop Report.1 Abbreviations: PR, pulmonary rehabilitation; UL, upper limbs; LL, lower limbs; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; NHLBI, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; WHO, World Health Organization.

PR immediately post AE

The effect of exercise programs initiated early post AE (usually at hospital discharge) has been explored in a systematic review.¹⁸ The structure of PR ranged from inpatient only, inpatient followed by an outpatient program, institution-based outpatient or home-based program only. Time of commencement ranged from within 3 to 7 days of hospital admission or immediately following discharge (within 6 to 10 days). Program format was variable, with a mix of endurance exercise for 10 days, followed by 6 months of home-based exercise, or strength and endurance training together with patient education, for a duration ranging from 3 to 12 weeks. Despite differences between program content, timing of commencement in relation to AE diagnosis and duration, clinically significant improvements in both exercise capacity and HRQOL were evident, with no adverse events.¹⁸ More importantly, PR commencement at this time reduced the rate of hospital readmission by 42% and mortality by 16%. With hospitalization being a significant predictor of mortality in COPD,¹ reducing the incidence of these events over the short and longer term may delay the rate of clinical decline.

PR during an AE of COPD

The majority of patients with COPD are referred and enrolled in PR programs when in a stable clinical state. However, there has been growing interest in the role of PR during an AE. Early studies showed that initiation of a formalized exercise program during an AE which incorporated both endurance and resistance training was feasible and associated with few adverse events.⁹⁹ Furthermore, quadriceps resistance training for 7 days applied at an initial load of 70% of one repetition maximum in patients experiencing a severe exacerbation was associated with an increase in quadriceps force, which was sustained at 1 month post discharge.¹⁰⁰ In addition, an anabolic response to training was achieved with resistance training, with no increase in systemic inflammation.¹⁰⁰ Although these are positive findings, the results of a recent study of early PR initiated within 48 hours of a hospital admission suggest there is a need for caution when applying this intervention within this very early clinical phase.¹⁰¹ Daily walking and resistance training commenced in hospital and continued unsupervised in the home environment with telephone support did not reduce the risk of readmission and a higher mortality rate at 12 months was noted with early PR compared to usual care.¹⁰¹ While this suggests that PR and self-management strategies introduced during an AE are not risk free, it perhaps illustrates the need to ensure that exercise regimens and health behavior approaches are well understood by patients when predominantly performed in the home environment. It questions when post AE PR should be delivered and future research needs to clarify the benefits and risks of PR during an AE and the optimal time for delivery in COPD.

PR and PA

One of the key goals of PR is to encourage greater PA on a regular basis and promote adherence to this behavior.¹⁰² It is well documented that individuals with COPD spend less time walking and standing compared to their healthy-aged matched counterparts.¹⁰³ The effect of PR on PA levels is encouraging, with small but significant improvements.¹⁰⁴ The ability of PR programs to achieve improvement in PA is dependent on several factors; at the center is the need to address patient behavioral change to encourage compliance and self-efficacy, which may require a longer interval of time.¹⁰⁵ This is illustrated by a 20% increase in walking time achieved after 6 months of training compared to a 7% increase following 3 months.¹⁰⁶ The type of training utilized during the original program may also be important, with translation of exercise behavior possibly easier with modes that are accessible in daily life, such as ground-based walking.³⁵

Economic impact of PR

Patients with COPD are major consumers of health care resources,¹⁰⁷ with current estimations of cost to the health system between $800 to $900 million per annum in Australia.¹⁰⁸ A substantial proportion of the economic burden of COPD is associated with hospitalization secondary to AE, with costs of USD4.5 billion and exceeding £800 million per annum in the UK.^109,110 With the growing need to allocate limited health resources effectively, the evidence that PR reduces the incidence of AE and frequency of hospitalization is encouraging.¹¹¹ There has been some economic analysis of PR in COPD, with three studies exploring elements of economic benefits of outpatient programs compared to standard care.^112–114 A cost-utility study in the UK found a 6 week outpatient program to be associated with an improvement in quality-adjusted life years compared to standard case.¹¹² Studies from the UK and Brazil found that an 8 week program was associated with significant direct health care cost savings, with fewer inpatient bed days and less outpatient physician reviews.^113,114 These changes may translate to benefits to the overall health care system.

Recommendations for the implementation and uptake of PR

Uptake and completion: one of the challenges of PR lies in the initial uptake and successful completion of a program. Failure to attend initial PR is attributed to inconvenient timing, disruption to usual routine, and influence of their primary health care provider.^79,80 Suboptimal attendance is commonly related to transport, lack of perceived benefit^79,80 as well as hospitalization and social isolation,^115,116 with less favorable outcomes achieved in non-completers of PR.¹⁹

A positive approach from the referring health professional has a significant influence on an individual patient’s attitude towards an initial assessment.¹¹⁷ For this reason, the role of those referring patients to PR is critical, with the need for quality patient education to facilitate informed decision-making regarding attendance. The provision of summaries of information may be one option to facilitate this process.¹¹⁸ Identifying potential issues regarding attendance prior to commencement was explored through a study of group opt-in sessions prior to commencing PR.¹¹⁹ Discussion related to negative thinking, inactivity, and possible approaches to reverse or manage common symptoms were highlighted, and possible barriers to attendance were identified by potential participants.¹¹⁹ This provided the opportunity to consider solutions prior to program commencement, and was associated with improved graduation rates.¹¹⁹ Increased patient knowledge and individual comfort within a group environment may be important factors to optimize uptake and successfully implement an exercise program.

Facilitation of health behavioral change: the complexity of health behavioral change process ideally should be facilitated by health care professionals. Guiding patients requires an approach which includes tailored advice, encouraging elements of self-management where appropriate, increasing self-confidence, and facilitating the commencement of a home exercise program with the view to maintain training and PA beyond the program.¹¹⁹ Provision of both peer and professional exercise-focused support is recognized by patients to be important for maintaining an active lifestyle post PR and for optimal attendance rates during the program.^79,120

Flexibility in program delivery: finally, some flexibility around exercise program provision may be necessary to ensure successful implementation. A common circumstance is the development of an AE during a training program. Continuation or recommencement of the program when interrupted is a suitable method to achieve clinically important outcomes.

Conclusion

COPD is a heterogeneous condition, with patients demonstrating physical, psychological, and functional disability in addition to comorbidities and complications which increase the complexity of clinical presentation. While the physical and psychosocial benefits of exercise training are well established, adaptation of programs to accommodate the varying clinical course of the disease and other manifestations of the condition are necessary. PR ideally should be offered in a stable clinical state and immediately following AE, although its role during AE requires further evaluation. In addition, the duration, frequency, and intensity of training should align with the recommended guidelines,⁶ but the way this is achieved may require modification of traditional training paradigms, to accommodate the needs of individual patients. Training strategies should consider the potential role of comorbidities or multi-morbidities in exercise training prescription and outcomes, and this area requires further research. Furthermore, the optimal approach to facilitate behavioral change is a continual challenge and further work is necessary to devise effective strategies in the short- and long-term to enhance attitudes towards exercise.

Disclosure

ALL and AEH have no disclosures or conflicts of interest in this work.

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