The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Vascular, Cardiac and Cerebral Vascular Function in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a treatable respiratory condition that is only partially reversible. The primary cause of COPD is smoking which leads to airway inflammation and oxidative damage to the lungs, which has been linked to the development and progression of the disease. The inflammation is not isolated to the lungs as patients with COPD also have systemic inflammation that has been linked to a number of cardiovascular comorbidities such as endothelial dysfunction, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Evidence demonstrates that COPD patients have a greater incidence of vascular dysfunction and adverse vascular remodeling, which worsens with disease severity. In fact, patients with COPD are at 35 times greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease and stroke than healthy aged matched individuals. In healthy individuals and a number of chronic conditions, aerobic exercise training is well established to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The benefits of exercise are likely through improvements in endothelial function, systemic inflammation, and cardiac and cerebral vascular function. However, whether exercise training can have the same effects in a chronic inflammatory condition like COPD has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of an 8 week aerobic exercise training program in patient's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as determined by improvements in endothelial function, systemic inflammation and cardiac and cerebral vascular function.

Inclusion criteria

• Non-smokers (>6 months);
• Forced expiratory volume in one second/ forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) < 0.7 and FEV1/FVC <lower limit of normal
• Stable (>3 months exacerbation free)

Exclusion criteria

• On supplemental oxygen;
• Known cardiac or cerebral vascular disease, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea;
• Uncontrolled hypertension;
• BMI >30kg/m2
• Currently performing pulmonary rehabilitation or structured exercise training;
• Desaturate during exercise (SpO2<85%)
• Cardiovascular contraindications to exercise in the incremental test used for screening