<p>Reduced Variability of Endurance Time in New Protocols for Exercise Tests in COPD</p>

A new protocol for exercise testing in COPD; improved prediction algorithm for WMAX and validation of the endurance test in a placebo-controlled double bronchodilator study

“…The ICPET in study A was compared with a standard, stepwise CPET. 17 , 18 In studies B 18 and C (see below), the same ICPET with minor changes was used.…”

“…Both studies A and B included a standard CWRET as control. 18 In this study, the same linear CET as in study B (with some minor changes, see below) was used.…”

“…However, the value for the slope for predicted versus measured W MAX was 0.50, which indicated that W MAX values in the high range (high performers) and the low range (low performers) were underestimated and overestimated, respectively. In Tufvesson and colleagues, 18 two different new test protocols for measuring bicycle exercise endurance time were compared with results from a standard CWRET. Both studies started with an initial period at 30–40% of W MAX .…”

“…Overall, the second new protocol showed more advantageous properties than the first when compared with results from the standard CWRET. 18 The second protocol served as a model for the design of the protocol used for the endurance test in this study, hereafter called the customized endurance test (CET).…”

“…The main objectives of this study were twofold: Part 1: to improve the prediction algorithm for W MAX to be used for the ICPET by using combined data from study cohorts included in our previous studies. 17 , 18 Part 2: to study the protocols for both the ICPET and the subsequent CET, the latter by examining the effect of the double bronchodilator [long-acting β 2 -agonist (LABA) plus long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), i.e. indacaterol and glycopyrronium (IND/GLY)] versus placebo on exercise performance.…”