© 1996 Oxford University Press
research-article |
Respiratory Rehabilitation, Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Chronic Airways Disease in Old Age
Departments of Geriatric Medicine and Nursing, University of Manchester, Barnes Hospital Kingsway, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 2NY
Address correspondence to Dr M. J. Connolly, Department of Geriatric Medicine
Respiratory rehabilitation improves exercise capacity and quality of life in younger patients but is untried in the aged. We aimed to: (a) assess repeatability of the 6-minute walk test, factors affecting it and its relation to quality of life in elderly patients with chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD); (b) assess compliance of such patients with an intensive respiratory rehabilitation protocol; (c) pilot the assessment of the effect of respiratory rehabilitation on the 6-minute walk test in these patients. Seventeen subjects with stable, symptomatic COAD were recruited, 15 (six men), 70–89 (mean 76) years, completed the study. Mean (standard deviation) 1-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) = 49 (5)% predicted. Six-minute walk tests were repeated single-blind, 2–10 days apart. Quality of life was measured using Guyatt respiratory questionnaire. Patients underwent 12 weeks incremental respiratory rehabilitation (x4/day step-ups, unweighted arm raises, inflating balloons). Baseline 6-minute walk was repeatable and was correlated with log Guyatt dyspnoea score (r = 0.65, p = 0.006). In multiple regression neither age nor FEV1 predicted walk distance, but the following were independent predictors of pre-programme 6-minute walk distance: body mass index, maximal expiratory mouth pressure; calorie intake. Mean (SEM) 6-minute walk distance after-rehabilitation was greater than baseline (p = 0.003). Elderly patients with COAD tolerate intensive respiratory rehabilitation and a controlled, blinded study is needed.
Revision received May 17, 1995.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  F. Di Meo, C. Pedone, S. Lubich, C. Pizzoli, M. Traballesi, and R. A. Incalzi Age does not hamper the response to pulmonary rehabilitation of COPD patients Age Ageing, September 1, 2008; 37(5): 530 - 535. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E Crisafulli, S Costi, F Luppi, G Cirelli, C Cilione, O Coletti, L M Fabbri, and E M Clini Role of comorbidities in a cohort of patients with COPD undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation Thorax, June 1, 2008; 63(6): 487 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Steffen and M. Seney Test-Retest Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change on Balance and Ambulation Tests, the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale in People With Parkinsonism Physical Therapy, June 1, 2008; 88(6): 733 - 746. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. M Yohannes and M. J Connolly Pulmonary rehabilitation programmes in the UK: a national representative survey Clinical Rehabilitation, April 1, 2004; 18(4): 444 - 449. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 ATS Statement: Guidelines for the Six-Minute Walk Test Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 2002; 166(1): 111 - 117. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. P. de Torres, V. Pinto-Plata, E. Ingenito, P. Bagley, A. Gray, R. Berger, and B. Celli Power of Outcome Measurements to Detect Clinically Significant Changes in Pulmonary Rehabilitation of Patients With COPD* Chest, April 1, 2002; 121(4): 1092 - 1098. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C A E Dyer, S J Singh, R A Stockley, A J Sinclair, and S L Hill The incremental shuttle walking test in elderly people with chronic airflow limitation Thorax, January 1, 2002; 57(1): 34 - 38. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Solway, D. Brooks, Y. Lacasse, and S. Thomas A Qualitative Systematic Overview of the Measurement Properties of Functional Walk Tests Used in the Cardiorespiratory Domain Chest, January 1, 2001; 119(1): 256 - 270. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. B King, J. O Judge, R. Whipple, and L. Wolfson Reliability and Responsiveness of Two Physical Performance Measures Examined in the Context of a Functional Training Intervention Physical Therapy, January 1, 2000; 80(1): 8 - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Bowman, M. Johnson, D. Venables, C. Foote, R. L Kane, and G. Bennett Geriatric care in the United Kingdom: aligning services to needs • Commentary: current system could be made to work BMJ, October 23, 1999; 319(7217): 1119 - 1122. [Full Text]
|
|