Exercise capacity deterioration in patients with COPD: longitudinal evaluation over 5 years
Background Although exercise capacity is an important outcome measure in patients with
COPD, its longitudinal course has not been analyzed in comparison to the change in
pulmonary function. Purpose To examine how exercise capacity would deteriorate over time
in patients with COPD, and what factors would contribute to it. Methods A total of 137 male
outpatients with moderate-to-very-severe COPD were examined. The average age was
69.0±6.6 years (±SD), and the mean postbronchodilator FEV 1 was 45.9±15.4% predicted …
COPD, its longitudinal course has not been analyzed in comparison to the change in
pulmonary function. Purpose To examine how exercise capacity would deteriorate over time
in patients with COPD, and what factors would contribute to it. Methods A total of 137 male
outpatients with moderate-to-very-severe COPD were examined. The average age was
69.0±6.6 years (±SD), and the mean postbronchodilator FEV 1 was 45.9±15.4% predicted …