The overall objective of the study is to investigate the feasibility of home based inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on chronic hypercapnia in patients with severe COPD, and to examine the relationship between inspiratory muscle strength and carbon dioxide level.
The development of chronic hypercapnia in patients with COPD indicates an imbalance of increased ventilatory work caused by hyperinflation and airway resistance and a decreased inspiratory muscle reserve, probably caused by diaphragm- dysfunction. The inspiratory muscle strength can be trained by a devise, which provides a resistance to inspiration. This study will be conducted as an a feasibility study and will examine whether inspiratory muscle training with a Power Breathe device (K3) is possible over a 6 week period in patients with COPD and chronic hypercapnia (pCO2 \> 6 kilo pascal). IMT will be considered as feasible if 80% of the planned training sessions have been completed, and if the maximum inspiratory strength improves by an average of 10% from MIP and if patients do not experience any discomfort or increased dyspnea during training. The training of the respiratory strength is carried out daily with an electronic handheld device (Power Breathe K3) and will consist of 2x30 inspirations per day with the resistance adjusted individually and progressively with a pressure of 30 - 50% of maximal inspiratory pressure. Training will take place in the home.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
3
Inspiratory muscle training for 6 weeks 2x30 breaths daily as a home based program
Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre
Hvidovre, Denmark
Completed training sessions
Feasibility - if 80% of the planned training sessions have been completed
Time frame: 6 weeks
Changes i Pimax
Feasibility - if the maximum inspiratory strength measured in cmH2O improves by an average of 10 %
Time frame: 6 weeks
Experienced discomfort
Feasibility - if the patients do not experience any discomfort or increased dyspnea during and after training
Time frame: 6 weeks and during the training session
Changes in pCO2
Arterial bloodgas analysis at day 1 and day 42 to measure pCO2 in kPa before and after the intervention
Time frame: 6 weeks
6 minutes walking test
6 MWT assess the distance walked over six minutes as a sub-maximal test of aerobic capacity/ endurance
Time frame: 6 weeks
CAT
CAT (COPD Assessment Test), symptom questionnaire, measured in points from 0- 40
Time frame: 6 week
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