Pulmonary rehabilitation, physical activity and aortic stiffness in COPD.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have elevated cardiovascular risk, and cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in COPD. The current literature indicates that changes in cardiovascular risk during pulmonary rehabilitation (assessed using aortic stiffness) are heterogeneous suggesting that there may be sub-groups of patients who do and do not benefit.

Objectives

To investigate the characteristics of COPD patients who do and do not experience aortic stiffness reduction during pulmonary rehabilitation, examine how changes relate to physical activity and exercise capacity, and assess whether changes in aortic stiffness are maintained at 6 weeks following rehabilitation.

Methods

We prospectively measured arterial stiffness (aor

SUBMITTER: Aldabayan YS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6657099 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature