Effects of Regular Aerobic Exercise Combined with Respiratory Rehabilitation Training on Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of regular aerobic exercise combined with respiratory rehabilitation training on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsA total of 82 patients with stable COPD, who received outpatient or inpatient care in the Department of Geriatrics at the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from August 2021 to September 2023, were enrolled. According to a random number table, they were allocated into a control group and an observation group, with 41 patients in each group. Both groups received conventional COPD treatment. The control group underwent respiratory rehabilitation training in addition to the conventional treatment, while the observation group received regular aerobic exercise in addition to the intervention given to the control group. The treatment lasted for three consecutive months in both groups. Before and after treatment, cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed to measure peak oxygen uptake (Peak VO₂), maximum minute ventilation (VEmax), and ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide at anaerobic threshold (VE/VCO₂ at AT) . The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) was used to assess exercise endurance. The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) was administered to evaluate quality of life. Blood gas analysis was conducted to measure partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) and partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂) in radial arterial blood.ResultsCompared with those before treatment, the Peak VO₂ and VEmax of both groups significantly increased after treatment (P<0.05), and VE/VCO₂ at AT significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the Peak VO₂ and VEmax in the observation group were higher after treatment (P<0.05), and the VE/VCO₂ at AT was lower (P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the 6MWT distance of both groups significantly increased after treatment (P<0.05), and the SGRQ score significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the 6MWT distance of the observation group was longer after treatment (P<0.05), and the SGRQ score was lower (P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the PaCO₂ of both groups significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.05), and PaO₂ significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the PaCO₂ of the observation group was lower after treatment (P<0.05), and the PaO₂ was higher (P<0.05).ConclusionRegular aerobic exercise combined with respiratory rehabilitation training can effectively improve the cardiopulmonary exercise function and exercise endurance of patients with stable COPD, and enhance their quality of life.