Assessment of effectiveness of training of respiratory musculature in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obesity

Aim. To assess the influence of training of respiratory musculature on the expressiveness of symptoms, tolerance to physical loads, spirometric parameters and quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obesity. Materials and Methods. The study included 52 patients with COPD (clinical group D) and obesity, of them 42 men and 10 women with the mean age 65.4±6.8 years and body mass index 33.6±2.9 kg/m2. The patients were divided to 2 groups: the main group with training of respiratory musculature (TRM) within 12 months using a respiratory exerciser, and the control group with simulation of TRM using the same exerciser, but with minimal load. Results. In 12 months the patients of the main group showed a reliable reduction of dyspnea on mMRC scale (Modified Medical Research Council), improvement of health related quality of life on St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), increase in forced expiration volume in 1 second and in forced vital capacity of lungs, increase in the covered distance in 6-minute walk test, reduction of the average duration of hospitalization for exacerbation of COPD. Conclusion. Taking into account the obtained data, TRM can be considered as an effective component of the lung rehabilitation program in patients with COPD.