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ObjectiveThe current study evaluated the costs and benefits of a simple aerobic walking program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MethodThis was a blinded randomized controlled clinical trial that recruited 72 patients diagnosed with COPD, 40 of whom were included in the study and divided into two groups [control group (CG) and pulmonary rehabilitation group (GPR)]. We assessed pulmonary function, distance covered during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), body composition, and level of activities of daily living (ADLs) before and after an 8-week walking program. The financial costs were calculated according to the pricing table of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). ResultsOnly 34 of the 40 patients remained in the final sample; 16 in the CG and 18 in the GPR (FEV1: 50.9±14% predicted and FEV1: 56±0.5% predicted, respectively). The intervention group exhibited improvements in the 6MWT, sensation of dyspnea and fatigue, work performed, BODE index (p<0.01), HRQOL, ADL level (p<0.001), and lower limb strength (p<0.05). The final mean cost per patient for the GPR was R$ 148.75 (~US$ 75.00) and no patient significantly exceeded this value. However, 2 patients in the CG did exceed this value, incurring a cost of R$ 689.15 (~US$ 345.00). ConclusionAerobic walking demonstrated significant clinical benefits in a cost-efficient manner in patients with COPD.

The prognostic characteristics of peak VO2 and the VE/VCO2 slope were similar between the two centers. These results suggest that the mode of exercise does not greatly impact the prognostic utility of CPET responses in heart failure. They further suggest that prognostic guidelines for the application of CPET in heart failure may be applied globally, irrespective of differences in testing modality.

Introduction: The appropriate physiological response to an acute bout of progressive aerobic exercise requires proper functioning of the pulmonary, cardiovascular and skeletal muscle systems. Unfortunately, these systems are all negatively impacted in patients with heart failure (HF), resulting in signifi cantly diminished aerobic capacity compared with apparently healthy individuals. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) is a noninvasive assessment technique that provides valuable insight into the health and functioning of the physiological systems that dictate an individual's aerobic capacity. The values of several key variables obtained from CPX, such as peak oxygen consumption and ventilatory effi ciency, are often found to be abnormal in patients with HF. In addition to the ability of CPX variables to acutely refl ect varying degrees of pathophysiology, they also possess strong prognostic signifi cance, further bolstering their clinical value. Once thought to be contraindicated in patients with HF, participation in a chronic aerobic exercise program is now an accepted lifestyle intervention. Following several weeks/months of aerobic exercise training, an abundance of evidence now demonstrates an improvement in several pathophysiological phenomena contributing to the abnormalities frequently observed during CPX in the HF population. These exercise-induced adaptations to physiological function result in a signifi cant improvement in aerobic capacity and quality of life. Conclusions: Furthermore, there is initial evidence to suggest that aerobic exercise training improves morbidity and mortality in patients with HF. This paper provides a review of the literature highlighting the clinical signifi cance of aerobic exercise testing and training in this unique cardiac population.

years were included. Fourteen were allocated to the obese group and 15 to the eutrophic group. Anthropometric measurements and body composition assessment were performed. Results: In both tests, obese women presented with significantly higher absolute oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure; they also presented with lower speed, distance walked, and oxygen uptake corrected by the weight compared to eutrophics. During the maximal exercise test, perceived dyspnea was greater and the respiratory exchange ratio was lower in obese subjects compared to eutrophics. During the submaximal test, carbon dioxide production, tidal volume, and heart rate were higher in obese subjects compared to eutrophic women. When analyzing possible correlations between the CPX and the tread6MWT at peak, there was a strong correlation for the variable heart rate and a moderate correlation for the variable oxygen uptake. The heart rate obtained in the submaximal test was able to predict the one obtained in the maximal test. Bland-Altman plots demonstrated the agreement between both tests to identify metabolic and physiological parameters at peak exercise. Conclusions:The six-minute walking test induced ventilatory, metabolic, and cardiovascular responses in agreement with the maximal testing. Thus, the six-minute walking test proves to be important for functional evaluation in the physical therapy routine.Keywords: obesity; exercise test; physical fitness; physical therapy. ResumoContextualização: A reduzida tolerância ao exercício está relacionada à diminuída capacidade funcional consequente da obesidade.Objetivos: Analisar e comparar respostas cardiopulmonares, metabólicas e subjetivas durante um teste de esforço cardiopulmonar e um teste de caminhada de seis minutos na esteira em mulheres obesas e eutróficas. Métodos: Foram incluídas 29 mulheres com idades entre 20 e 45 anos. Catorze voluntárias foram alocadas no grupo de obesas e 15, no grupo de eutróficas. Foram realizadas medidas antropométricas e de composição corporal. Resultados: Em ambos os testes, as obesas apresentaram maiores valores de consumo absoluto de oxigênio, ventilação-minuto e pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica; ainda apresentaram menor velocidade de caminhada, distância percorrida e consumo de oxigênio relativo, quando comparadas com as eutróficas. Durante o teste máximo de exercício, a dispneia percebida foi maior e o quociente respiratório menor nas obesas em relação às eutróficas. Durante o teste submáximo, produção de dióxido de carbono, volume corrente e frequência cardíaca foram maiores nas obesas, comparadas às eutróficas. Houve forte correlação entre a frequência cardíaca e moderada correlação entre o consumo de oxigênio no pico dos testes. A frequência cardíaca obtida no teste submáximo aplicado foi capaz de predizer a frequência cardíaca obtida no teste máximo. IntroductionObesity-induced limitations of the cardiopulmonary and metabolic systems, commonly resulting in exertional dyspnea, collectively contribute to th...

The results of the current study indicate CPX equally represents disease severity in HFrEF and HFpEF patients. This is a novel finding supporting the key role of CPX in the clinical follow-up of HF patients irrespective of LVEF and cardiac phenotype.

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