Author:

Keywords:

Aged, Belgium, C-Reactive Protein, Cross-Sectional Studies, Exercise Tolerance, Female, Hospitals, University, Humans, Inpatients, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8, Male, Middle Aged, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, 1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology, Respiratory System, 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology

Abstract:

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To explore the acute systemic inflammatory and anabolic effects of cycling in hospital admitted patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in patients with clinically stable disease. DESIGN: Cross-sectional comparative study. SETTING: University Hospital Gasthuisberg, a tertiary care setting. PATIENTS: 16 patients with clinically stable COPD (no acute exacerbation in the past 12 weeks; median age: 73 years (IQR: 60 to 75); median forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1): 45% predicted (IQR: 33 to 58)) and 14 patients who were admitted to a hospital due to an acute exacerbation of COPD (median age: 65 years (IQR: 59 to 74); median FEV1 on day 8 of hospital stay: 41% predicted (IQR: 33 to 54)). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Circulating levels of C reactive protein, interleukin 6, interleukin 8 and insulin-like growth factor I were determined before, at the end and 2 and 30 minutes after a symptom-limited peak cycling test and before, at the end and 2 and 30 minutes after a symptom-limited constant-work-rate cycling test at 70% of the peak load. Non-significant changes in the circulating markers of inflammation and anabolism were found during or up to 30 minutes after ceasing the peak or constant-work-rate cycling exercise tests. The systemic responses of the hospitalized patients with COPD did not differ from those with clinically stable disease. CONCLUSIONS: High-intensity cycling exercises did not increase the circulating levels of inflammatory markers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, irrespective of their clinical stability.