Continuous Versus High Intensity Interval Exercise in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

ConditionCOPD

Trial statusRecruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

AgeNot listed

SponsorGeorge Papanicolaou Hospital

About this trial

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by exercise intolerance, which is a prognostic factor of disease severity and mortality and is usually attributed to ventilatory limitations. Emerging evidence indicates that cerebral oxygenation may also be an important contributor, being impaired both at rest and during exercise in COPD patients. Furthermore, abnormal systemic hemodynamic responses and autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction have been observed, which may further impair cerebral oxygenation. The type of exercise training applied in pulmonary rehabilitation (continuous versus interval) appears to influence these mechanisms differently, yet evidence on their impact on cerebral oxygenation in COPD remains scarce. The aim of this study is to compare, for the first time, the acute changes in cerebral oxygenation, CPET parameters, systemic hemodynamic responses, and autonomic responses in patients with COPD who undergo a high-intensity interval aerobic exercise (HIIE) protocol versus a moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise (MICE) protocol. These findings will have important clinical implications, as they may guide the choice of the most appropriate exercise modality in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Clinical diagnosis of COPD based on smoking history (pack/years) or exposure to other risk factors and post bronchodilation forced expiratory volume (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio <0.7

Resting arterial oxygen partial pressure at room air >60 mmHg, according to recent (within a week) arterial blood gases assessment

Disease being stable and treated optimal, based on current GOLD guidelines.

Provision of informed written signed consent prior to study entry

Disqualifiers

Recent respiratory infection or exacerbation (as indicated by deterioration of respiratory symptoms, hospital admission and/or change in medication within the previous month), within the past 3 months

Changes in COPD medication with the past month

History of asthma and/or reversible airway obstruction (post bronchodilation FEV1/ FVC >0.7)

Pulmonary hypertension

Trial design

Design model

Crossover

Treatments tested in this trial

Moderate intensity continuous aerobic exercise (MICE)
Other intervention
Patients will perform a moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise (MICE) protocol on a cycle ergometer that includes 20 minutes of cycling at 50%WRpeak.
High-intensity interval aerobic exercise (HIIE)
Other intervention
Patients will perform a high-intensity interval aerobic exercise (HIIE) protocol on a cycle ergometer that consists of 12 sets of 60 seconds work at 85% WRpeak followed by 60 seconds of rest.

Treatment groups

12 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: COPD Group AExperimental treatment 2 interventions

Group B: COPD Group BExperimental treatment 2 interventions