Evaluation of biochemical markers and quality of life in different pulmonary rehabilitation exercises for COPD patients

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects millions of people worldwide, causing gradual muscle dysfunction deterioration. Muscle impairment may be controlled after a specific and individualized pulmonary rehabilitation training program, which is essential for the management of COPD. This study aimed to assess indirect biochemical parameters related to muscle behavior and quality of life in patients with COPD in different pulmonary rehabilitation training programs. Methods: Thirty patients (GOLD stages II-IV) were prospectively included in a 12-week multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation program. Patients who performed high-intensity training (n=15) were assigned to Group A and those performing low-intensity training (n=15) were placed in Group B. Besides clinical evaluation, serum creatine kinase, lactate, fibrinogen, and vitamin D levels, cardiopulmonary test and 6-minute walk test results, and quality of life were assessed before and after intervention. Results: There was a significant reduction in fibrinogen (458 vs. 284 mg/dl) (p<0.001) associated with an improvement in quality of life (27.9 vs. 19.3 points) (p=0.024) in group A. Conclusions: Pulmonary rehabilitation with a structured program that included high-intensity training was well tolerated by the patients and was more efficient in reducing fibrinogen as an inflammatory marker, improving quality of life.