Outcome measures in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): strengths and limitations

Abstract

Current methods for assessing clinical outcomes in COPD mainly rely on physiological tests combined with the use of questionnaires. The present review considers commonly used outcome measures such as lung function, health status, exercise capacity and physical activity, dyspnoea, exacerbations, the multi-dimensional BODE score, and mortality. Based on current published data, we provide a concise overview of the principles, strengths and weaknesses, and discuss open questions related to each methodology. Reviewed is the current set of markers for measuring clinically relevant outcomes with particular emphasis on their limitations and opportunities that should be recognized when assessing and interpreting their use in clinical trials of COPD.

Influence of Ambient Music on Perceived Exertion During a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Session: A Randomized Crossover Study

“…In 2006, the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society mentioned in their joint statement that all strategies to improve adherence need to be investigated. 3 Dyspnea is a subjective breathing discomfort experienced by many patients with COPD 4 and results from expiratory flow limitation and lung hyperinflation. Dyspnea is experienced particularly during exercise, resulting in reduced exercise tolerance.…”

Assessment of body composition, functional capacity and pulmonary function in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…According to literature, patients with COPD have reduced physical abilities [1][2][3][4] , which have been assessed by means of the coursed distance in ISWT, in comparison to predicted values for each individual according to age, weight, height and gender 12 . This is in accordance with our findings, which also revealed significant difference between the coursed distance by the patients with COPD and the predicted distance in ISWT.…”

“…This cycle of dyspnea and sedentary lifestyle promotes peripheral muscular hypotrophy and reduced aerobic capacity, thus resulting in more intense ventilatory demand for dynamic activities and closing the cycle called dyspnea-sedentary lifestyle-dyspnea 3,4 .…”

Eine pneumologische Rehabilitation nach akuter Exazerbation der COPD senkt die Rate erneuter Exazerbationen

“…Die Veränderungen in der Spirometrie bei COPD-Patienten sind in der Regel irreversibel und durch eine Rehabilitationsmaßnahme nicht beeinflussbar [39].…”