title: Aerobic exercise training improves right- and left ventricular systolic function in patients with COPD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of moderate continuous training (MCT) and high intensity aerobic interval training (AIT) on systolic ventricular function and aerobic capacity in COPD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients with COPD (64 ± 8 years, 12 men) with FEV1 of 52.8 ± 11% of predicted, were randomly assigned to isocaloric programs of MCT at 70% of max heart rate (HR) for 47 minutes) or AIT (~90% of max HR for 4×4 minutes) three times per week for 10 weeks. Baseline cardiac function was compared with 17 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Peak oxygen uptake (VO(2-peak)) and left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function examined by echocardiography, were measured at baseline and after 10 weeks of training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the COPD patients had reduced systolic function compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). After the training, AIT and MCT increased VO(2-peak) by 8% and 9% and work economy by 7% and 10%, respectively (all p < 0.05). LV and RV systolic function both improved (p < 0.05), with no difference between the groups after the two modes of exercise training. Stroke volume increased by 17% and 20%, LV systolic tissue Doppler velocity (S') by 18% and 17% and RV S' by 15% after AIT and MCT, respectively (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systolic cardiac function is reduced in COPD. Both AIT and MCT improved systolic cardiac function. In contrast to other patient groups studied, higher exercise intensity does not seem to have additional effects on cardiac function or aerobic capacity in COPD patients.
authors.affiliation: K. G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine at Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. eivind.bronstad@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Eivind
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brønstad
authors.forename: Arnt Erik
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Tjonna
authors.forename: Øivind
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Rognmo
authors.forename: Håvard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dalen
authors.forename: Alf Magne
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Heggli
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wisloff
authors.forename: Charlotte Björk
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ingul
authors.forename: Sigurd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinshamn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D004452:Echocardiography; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*