title: Effects of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation with a metronome-guided walking pace in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Despite documented efficacy and recommendations, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been underutilized. Home-based PR was proposed as an alternative, but there were limited data. The adequate exercise intensity was also a crucial issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of home-based PR with a metronome-guided walking pace on functional exercise capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in COPD. The subjects participated in a 12-week home-based PR program. Exercise intensity was initially determined by cardiopulmonary exercise test, and was readjusted (the interval of metronome beeps was reset) according to submaximal endurance test. Six-minute walk test, pulmonary function test, cardiopulmonary exercise test, and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were done before and after the 12-week program, and at 6 months after completion of rehabilitation. Thirty-three patients participated in the program. Six-minute walking distance was significantly increased (48.8 m; P = 0.017) and the SGRQ score was also improved (-15; P < 0.001) over the six-month follow-up period after rehabilitation. There were no significant differences in pulmonary function and peak exercise parameters. We developed an effective home-based PR program with a metronome-guided walking pace for COPD patients. This rehabilitation program may improve functional exercise capacity and HRQOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-soon
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Changhwan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yeon-Mok
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sang-Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yun Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yong Bum
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
keywords: Exercise Test; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life; Rehabilitation