Oral prednisolone for 4 days does not increase exercise tolerance in men with COPD.

ABSTRACT: One of the primary objectives in management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is preventing decrease in lung function and reducing the annual number of acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). An oral course of systemic corticosteroids is a commonly used treatment in AECOPD. We hypothesize that this treatment also increases exercise performance and decreases muscle fatigue. In a randomized double-blinded, parallel, placebo-controlled trial, we investigated 14 men (8 on prednisolone 37.5 mg vs. 6 on placebo) with severe and very severe COPD. For 5 consecutive days, the patients performed a submaximal endurance test measuring time to exhaustion (TTE, primary endpoint), spirometry, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure and maximal isometric contraction of the quadriceps femor

SUBMITTER: Karlsson SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5958466 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature