Impact of bronchodilator therapy on exercise tolerance in COPD.

ABSTRACT: Exercise tolerance is an important parameter in patients with COPD and a primary goal of treatment is to reduce dyspnea to facilitate physical activities and improve health-related quality of life. This review examines the link between expiratory flow limitation and dyspnea to explain the rationale for the use of bronchodilators and review the characteristics of different types of exercise tests, with specific focus on which tests are likely to show a response to bronchodilators. An earlier literature search of studies published up to 1999 assessed the effects of bronchodilatort therapy on dypsnea and exercise tolerance among patients with COPD. This current review examines the clinical evidence published since 1999. Thirty-one randomized studies of exercise tolerance associated with short

SUBMITTER: Aguilaniu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2865026 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature