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Evidence summaries

Oxygen Therapy during Exercise Training in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Patients with COPD may exercise longer and have less shortness of breath when using oxygen during an exercise-training program. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 5 studies with a total of 105 subjects. When two studies were pooled, statistically significant improvements of oxygen-supplemented exercise training were found in constant power exercise time, WMD 2.68 minutes (95% CI 0.07 to 5.28 minutes). Supplemental oxygen increased the average exercise time from 6 to 14 minutes; the control intervention increased average exercise time from 6 to 12 minutes. Constant power exercise end-of-test Borg score (on a scale from 1 to 10) also showed statistically significant improvements with oxygen-supplemented exercise training, WMD -1.22 units (95% CI -2.39 to -0.06). One study showed a significant improvement in the change of Borg score after the shuttle walk test, by -1.46 units (95% CI -2.72 to -0.19). There were no significant differences in maximal exercise outcomes, functional exercise outcomes (six-minute walk test), shuttle walk distance, health-related quality of life or oxygenation status.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (inadequate allocation concealment and imprecise results) and by imprecise results (few patients and wide confidence intervals).

References

  • Nonoyama ML, Brooks D, Lacasse Y, Guyatt GH, Goldstein RS. Oxygen therapy during exercise training in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007 Apr 18;(2):CD005372 [Review content assessed as up-to-date: 4 June 2009]. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords