Feasibility of the Six-Minute Walk Test for Patients Who Have Cystic Fibrosis, Are Ambulatory, and Require Mechanical Ventilation Before Lung Transplantation

Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation performed through exercise training for patients with stable COPD: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

The application of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improves functional capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at all stages of disease severity. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of PR, performed through exercise training (PR-ET), on functional capacity and HRQoL in patients with stable COPD.

Methods

The meta-analysis was performed by including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving patients with stable COPD who participated in different types of PR-ET in which six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and/ or St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire total scores (SGRQ) were measured. The data search was conducted in December 2020 and January 2021.

Results

The first meta-analysis showed a statistically significant positive effect (MD=31.73m; p<0.00001) of PR-ET on 6MWD. Similarly, the second meta-analysis found a statistically significant favourable effect of pulmonary rehabilitation through exercise training on SGRQ total scores (MD=-8.09; p=0.002).

Conclusions

PR, which includes several different types of exercise training, has a positive effect on the functional capacity and HRQoL of patients with stable COPD. Further studies should be conducted to determine the effects of home-based PR-ET and PR-ET >8 weeks on SGRQ total scores.

Association between early pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery and preoperative physical capacity

Objective: To investigate whether early postoperative pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery are associated with a lower performance in preoperative six-minute walk test.Methods: A cross-sectional cohort study of 50 participants who underwent elective abdominal surgery and performed the six-minute walk test within 48 hours prior to surgery were conducted. Postoperative pulmonary complications up to the seventh postoperative day were obtained from medical records.Results: Overall, 25 participants developed postoperative pulmonary complications. The mean (standard deviation) preoperative walked distances of the participants with and without postoperative pulmonary complications were, respectively, 444.8 (81.3) meters and 498.3 (63.7) meters (p = .013). The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications was greater in the participants with walked distance < 400 meters. The multivariable logistic regression model revealed a significant association between postoperative pulmonary complications and preoperative walked distance (Odds ratio = 0.978, p = .010) in participants who underwent intestinal, stomach, or bile tract resection. Conclusions: This study found a high incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in abdominal surgery participants and an association between lower preoperative physical capacity and the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications in participants who underwent intestinal, stomach, and biliary tract resection.