Enhancing our understanding of the time course of acute exacerbations of COPD managed on an outpatient basis

Short-term effects of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation during outpatient-managed exacerbations of COPD: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Uncertainty exists about the beneficial effects of delivering pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) during exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD). This study explored the short-term effects and self-reported impact of a home-based PR programme for people with outpatient-managed ECOPD.

METHODS

We conducted a mixed-methods randomised controlled trial in people with outpatient-managed ECOPD. Participants were randomly assigned to the control (CG, ie, usual care) or experimental (EG, ie, usual care and 3-week home-based PR) group within 48 hours of the diagnosis (baseline). Assessments were performed at baseline and after 3 weeks (post). The COPD assessment test (CAT) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included measures of symptoms and functional capacity. After PR, interviews were conducted. Analyses were performed using (non-)parametric mixed analysis of variance, deductive thematic analysis and narrative integration through joint displays.

RESULTS

Fifty participants with outpatient-managed ECOPD (78% men, 70±11 years, forced expiratory volume in one second 47.4±16.4% pred) were included. Significant greater improvements in the EG compared with the CG were found for the CAT (EG Δ-12.5±7.2 vs CG Δ-5.9±7.2, p=0.002) and 12 of 13 other secondary outcome measures. A positive self-perceived impact of PR was found on symptoms, control of daily life, health, mental status and empowerment. No adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

A 3-week home-based PR programme is safe, meaningful and more effective than just standard medication in improving symptoms, functional capacity and health status, outcomes often associated with poor prognosis. This highlights the role of PR in improving the recovery process during outpatient-managed ECOPD and might contribute to a better prognosis in these individuals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03751670.

Understanding the Gaps in the Reporting of COPD Exacerbations by Patients: A Review

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with loss of lung function, poor quality of life, loss of exercise capacity, risk of serious cardiovascular events, hospitalization, and death. However, patients underreport exacerbations, and evidence suggests that unreported exacerbations have similar negative health implications for patients as those that are reported. Whilst there is guidance for physicians to identify patients who are at risk of exacerbations, they do not help patients recognise and report them. Newly developed tools, such as the COPD Exacerbation Recognition Tool (CERT) have been designed to achieve this objective. This review focuses on the underreporting of COPD exacerbations by patients, the factors associated with this, the consequences of underreporting, and potential solutions.

Impact of acute exacerbations of COPD on patients' health status beyond pulmonary function: A scoping review

This scoping review summarized the evidence regarding the impact of acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) on patients' health status beyond pulmonary function. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched. Prospective cohort studies assessing the health status of patients with COPD in a stable phase of the disease and after a follow-up period (where at least one AECOPD occurred) were included. An integrated assessment framework of health status (i.e., physiological functioning, complaints, functional impairment, quality of life) was used. Twenty-two studies were included. AECOPD acutely affected exercise tolerance, quadriceps muscle strength, physical activity levels, symptoms of dyspnoea and fatigue, and impact of the disease. Long-term effects on quadriceps muscle strength, symptoms of dyspnoea and depression, and quality of life were found. Repeated exacerbations negatively impacted the fat-free mass, levels of dyspnoea, impact of the disease and quality of life. Conflicting evidence was found regarding the impact of repeated exacerbations on exercise tolerance and physical activity levels. AECOPD have well-established acute and long-term adverse effects on health status beyond pulmonary function; nevertheless, the recovery trajectory and the impact of repeated exacerbations are still poorly studied. Further prospective research is recommended to draw firm conclusions on these aspects.

Home-based or remote exercise testing in chronic respiratory disease, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: A rapid review

Objectives:

To identify exercise tests that are suitable for home-based or remote administration in people with chronic lung disease.

Methods:

Rapid review of studies that reported home-based or remote administration of an exercise test in people with chronic lung disease, and studies reporting their clinimetric (measurement) properties.

Results:

84 studies were included. Tests used at home were the 6-minute walk test (6MWT, two studies), sit-to-stand tests (STS, five studies), Timed Up and Go (TUG, 4 studies) and step tests (two studies). Exercise tests administered remotely were the 6MWT (two studies) and step test (one study). Compared to centre-based testing the 6MWT distance was similar when performed outdoors but shorter when performed at home (two studies). The STS, TUG and step tests were feasible, reliable (intra-class correlation coefficients >0.80), valid (concurrent and known groups validity) and moderately responsive to pulmonary rehabilitation (medium effect sizes). These tests elicited less desaturation than the 6MWT, and validated methods to prescribe exercise were not reported.

Discussion:

The STS, step and TUG tests can be performed at home, but do not accurately document desaturation with walking or allow exercise prescription. Patients at risk of desaturation should be prioritised for centre-based exercise testing when this is available.

Minimal Clinically Important Differences for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures of Cough and Sputum in Patients with COPD

Background

Cough and sputum are highly prevalent in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has shown to be effective in managing these symptoms. However, the interpretation of the magnitude of PR effects is hindered by the lack of minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs).

Purpose

This study established MCIDs for the Leicester cough questionnaire (LCQ) and the cough and sputum assessment questionnaire (CASA-Q), in patients with COPD after PR.

Patients and Methods

An observational prospective study was conducted in patients with COPD who participated in a 12-weeks community-based PR program. Anchor- (mean change, receiver operating characteristic curves and linear regression analysis) and distribution-based methods [0.5*standard deviation; standard error of measurement (SEM); 1.96*SEM; minimal detectable change and effect size] were used to compute the MCIDs. The anchors used were: i) patients and physiotherapists global rating of change scale, ii) COPD assessment test, iii) St. George's respiratory questionnaire and iv) occurrence of an exacerbation during PR. Pooled MCIDs were computed using the arithmetic weighted mean (2/3 for anchor- and 1/3 for distribution-based methods).

Results

Forty-nine patients with COPD (81.6% male, 69.8±7.4years, FEV150.4±19.4%predicted) were used in the analysis. The pooled MCIDs were 1.3 for LCQ and for CASA-Q domains were: 10.6 - cough symptoms; 10.1 - cough impact; 9.5 - sputum symptoms and 7.8 - sputum impact.

Conclusion

The MCIDs found in this study are potential estimates to interpret PR effects on cough and sputum, and may contribute to guide interventions.

Effectiveness of Xin Jia Xuan Bai Cheng Qi Decoction in treating acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: study protocol for a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) brings a serious impact on patients' quality of life, and has extremely high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although there are many therapies being developed to alleviate symptoms and reduce mortality, a few studies have supported which treatment method is the best. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown good potential in the prevention and treatment of AECOPD, especially in terms of supplementation and reduction of dosage and adverse effect of Western medicine. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of combination of TCM and Western medicine with conventional therapy alone for AECOPD, and to ensure whether the combined therapy may reduce the use of systemic glucocorticoid in AECOPD without influencing efficacy.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to enrol a total of 360 eligible patients who will be randomised into integrated Chinese and Western medicine group A, B and Western standard Medicine group C. After 5 days of intervention and 1 month of follow-up, the efficacy and safety of Xin Jia Xuan Bai Cheng Qi Decoction in patients with AECOPD will be observed. The results of evaluation indicators include: clinical symptoms, biochemical indicators such as blood gas analysis, inflammatory markers, hospitalisation time, TCM syndrome evaluation, biological indicators such as airway, intestinal flora sequencing.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This trail has been approved by the Ethics Committee of China-Japan Friendship Hospital. The results will be disseminated in international peer-reviewed journals and be presented in academic conferences. The results will also be disseminated to patients by telephone, inquiring on patient's poststudy health status during the follow-up.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR1800016915.

Minimal Important and Detectable Differences of Respiratory Measures in Outpatients with AECOPD†

Interpreting clinical changes during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is challenging due to the absence of established minimal detectable (MDD) and important (MID) differences for most respiratory measures. This study established MDD and MID for respiratory measures in outpatients with AECOPD following pharmacological treatment. COPD assessment test (CAT), modified Borg scale (MBS), modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) questionnaire, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), computerised respiratory sounds and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) were collected within 24-48 hour of an AECOPD and after 45 days of pharmacological treatment. MID and MDD were calculated using anchor- (receiver operating characteristic and linear regression analysis) and distribution-based methods (effect size, SEM, 0.5*SD and MDC95) and pooled using Meta XL. Forty-four outpatients with AECOPD (31♂; 68.2 ± 9.1 years; FEV₁ 51.1 ± 20.3%predicted) participated. Significant correlations with CAT were found for the MBS (r = 0.34), mMRC (r = 0.39) and FEV₁ (r = 0.33), resulting in MIDs of 0.8, 0.5-0.6 and 0.03L, respectively. MDD of 0.5-1.4 (MBS), 0.4-1.2 (mMRC), 0.10-0.28L (FEV₁), 3.6-10.1% (FEV₁%predicted), 0.9-2.4% (SpO₂), 0.7-1.9 (number of inspiratory crackles), 1.1-4.5 (number of expiratory crackles), 7.1-25.8% (inspiratory wheeze rate) and 11.8-63.0% (expiratory wheeze rate) were found. Pooled data of MID/MDD showed that improvements of 0.9 for the MBS, 0.6 for the mMRC, 0.15L for the FEV₁, 7.6% for the FEV₁%predicted, 1.5% for the SpO₂, 1.1 for the inspiratory and 2.4 for the number of expiratory number of crackles, 14.1% for the inspiratory and 32.5% for the expiratory wheeze rate are meaningful following an AECOPD managed with pharmacological treatment on an outpatient basis.