Respiratory Rehabilitation Exercises in Older Adults With Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chest Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Treatments: Behavioral: Respiratory rehabilitation exercise training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02329873

ER-100-202

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of a respiratory rehabilitation exercise training package on dyspnea, cough, exercise tolerance, and sputum expectoration of hospitalized elderly patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Using purposive sampling, 61 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 30) or the control group (n = 31). The experimental group participants received the respiratory rehabilitation exercise training twice a day and 10-30 minutes per session for four days. The control group participants received usual care and health education. Data were collected at baseline and at the end of the four-day intervention.

Full description

The respiratory rehabilitation exercise training package included: (a) Disease awareness: The doctor explained the disease to patients and their families through the chest X-ray, (b) Sputum clearance treatments: Easily understood postural drainage cards were provided to the patients and families to assist with proper sputum clearance procedures, (c) Pursed lip breathing training: Devices were provided to the patients to ensure that the breathing exercises were completed properly, (d) Upper-limb exercise with breathing pranayama: Towels were provided to the patients to assist with upper-limb exercises properly, (e) Walking training with breathing pranayama: Legs were elevated while inhaling, and returned to the position while exhaling, and (f) Assign a pulmonary rehabilitation program coordinator: Coordinators were assigned to assist the patients in nutrition management and health education.

Enrollment: 61 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. diagnosed with moderate COPD with moderate acute exacerbation
2. over 65 years of age
3. conscious clear
4. with shortness of breath or dyspnea that was not caused by heart disease, pneumothorax, or pulmonary edema
5. had received bronchodilator aerosol therapy or antibiotic treatment, but had not been treated with an antitussive

Exclusion criteria

1. unstable vital signs
2. blood oxygen concentration lower than 90%
3. unstable psychological status, hemoptysis, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, or using the respirator

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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61 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental group

Experimental group

Description:

Respiratory rehabilitation exercise training 2 times/day, 10-30 minutes per session for 4 days.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Respiratory rehabilitation exercise training

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Control group received usual care and health education.