COPD impacts a significant proportion of the Veteran population. Acute exacerbations, or flare-ups, of COPD are associated with impaired muscle function and worse quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation, a formal exercise program for patients with lung disease that includes both endurance and strength training exercises, has been shown to improve muscle function and quality of life after an acute exacerbation of COPD. However, lack of geographically accessible rehabilitation facilities and/or transportation issues are often barriers to pulmonary rehabilitation attendance in the Veteran population. This study will assess the feasibility and impact of an eight-week, three sessions per week, home-based, pulmonary telerehabilitation program in Veterans with COPD following hospitalization for an acute exacerbation of their lung disease. We will measure adherence and satisfaction with the program and muscle strength, physical activity, quality of life, and exercise tolerance pre and post-intervention in Veterans randomized to the pulmonary telerehabilitation arm versus Veterans randomized to the control arm who do not participate in pulmonary rehabilitation.
Pulmonary telerehabilitation programs have been shown to have a high acceptance and adherence rate and lead to improvement in exercise capacity and quality of life in stable COPD. However, data regarding the feasibility and impact of pulmonary telerehabilitation following hospitalization for an Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD) on physical activity levels, muscle function, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life are lacking. The primary hypothesis is that a home-based pulmonary telerehabilitation program initiated at hospital discharge following an AECOPD is feasible in the Veteran population and will result in increased physical activity and greater improvement in muscle function, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life compared to usual care. This hypothesis will be tested with the following specific aims: (1) To determine the feasibility of an eight-week home-based pulmonary telerehabilitation program in Veterans with moderate to severe COPD initiated in the immediate post-hospitalization period following an AECOPD. (2) To determine physical activity levels and the magnitude and variability in changes of measurements of muscle strength, functional exercise performance, and health-related quality of life following an eight-week home-based pulmonary telerehabilitation program versus usual care initiated in Veterans with moderate to severe COPD immediately following hospitalization for an AECOPD. The study will randomize (1:1 allocation) 30 male and female Veterans hospitalized with an AECOPD to either an eight-week, three sessions per week, home-based pulmonary telerehabilitation program that includes lower extremity endurance exercises with a cycle ergometer and upper and lower extremity strength training with 1:1 supervision via video conferencing with an exercise physiologist as well as a twice-monthly online support group via video conferencing versus usual care. Changes from baseline in physical activity levels, handgrip and quadriceps muscle strength, exercise endurance, and health-related quality of life will be assessed following the pulmonary telerehabilitation program versus usual care. Findings from this project will contribute to the growing field of pulmonary telerehabilitation and will provide critical preliminary data for the design and implementation of a larger, randomized control trial assessing the impact of pulmonary telerehabilitation on long-term clinical outcomes following AECOPD.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
5
The intervention will consist of an eight-week, three sessions per week, home-based pulmonary telerehabilitation program that will incorporate both lower extremity endurance exercise and upper and lower extremity resistance training. Subjects randomized to the study intervention will also participate in a one hour, twice-monthly support group via group video conferencing consisting of an educational topic (i.e. inhaler use, understanding COPD) and group discussion.
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Quadriceps Muscle Strength Testing Change
Quadriceps muscle maximal force (kilogram-force, kgf) will be measured with a Keiser leg press. One repetition maximum (1RM) measures will be obtained by progressively increasing resistance until the participant is unable to successfully complete one repetition. Peak muscle power will be measured at 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 percent of the 1RM 30 minutes after the 1RM measurement was obtained.
Time frame: measured at baseline and at ten weeks
Six Minute Walk Test
Participants completed a six minute walk test, which consisted of walking in a flat corridor for six minutes with the distance walked measured in feet. Participants were instructed to complete the walk using their home oxygen prescription for exertion. The difference between baseline and ten week walk test was compared between groups.
Time frame: measured at baseline and at ten weeks
Health-related Quality of Life Assessments Change
Health-related quality of life will be assessed with the Short-Form 36-Item Questionnaire (SF-36) prior to hospital discharge and at ten weeks following an eight week pulmonary telerehabilitation intervention or usual care. The SF-36 consists of 36 questions spanning nine health domains and is a valid measure of health-related quality of life in COPD that is responsive to change following a pulmonary rehabilitation intervention.
Time frame: measured at baseline and ten weeks
Participant Satisfaction Survey
Participants will be administered a survey by the study coordinator at ten weeks after completion of the eight-week pulmonary telerehabilitation intervention that will require them to respond to statements related to their satisfaction with the home-based program. Statements will address ease of use of the video conferencing modality, acceptability of exercise components, perceptions of impact on muscle strength and exercise endurance, and willingness to participate in additional pulmonary telerehabilitation. Participants randomized to the usual care group will not be administered a survey.
Time frame: measured at ten weeks (study completion)
Sit-to-stand Test Change
The one-minute sit-to-stand test has been shown to be reliable, valid, and responsive to change in exercise capacity following pulmonary rehabilitation in individuals with COPD. The test consists of the participant standing at full leg extension from a sitting position at their own pace as often as possible during a one minute testing interval. The participant is permitted to stop at any time during the one minute interval if necessary. An armless chair is used for testing and the participant is asked to fold their arms across their chest during testing. Two tests will be performed on separate days prior to discharge and the test with the greatest number of repetitions will be used as the baseline performance measure. A third test will be performed at ten weeks following an eight week pulmonary telerehabilitation intervention or usual care.
Time frame: measured at baseline and ten weeks
Handgrip Strength
Handgrip strength of the dominant hand will be measured with a hand dynamometer. Three measurements will be taken with a 60 second recovery period between trials. The average maximal force across trials will be calculated as the final handgrip strength.
Time frame: measured at baseline and ten weeks
Disease Specific Quality of Life
The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) is a disease-specific questionnaire validated to measure health status in patients with COPD. Total SGRQ scores range from 0-100 with higher scores indicating greater symptoms burden. The minimal clinically important difference is a difference of four points in the total SGRQ score.
Time frame: measured at baseline and ten weeks
Symptoms During Sit-to-stand Test
The participants' perception of dyspnea and exertion during the sit-to-stand test will be assessed following each test with the ten point Borg dyspnea and leg fatigue scale, which measures the degree of dyspnea and leg fatigue with exercise.
Time frame: measured at baseline and ten weeks
Post-intervention Survey
Questions regarding social support, psychiatric attributes, and other factors potentially associated with program adherence will be asked in order to gain preliminary insights to optimize recruitment for a larger, randomized controlled trial of pulmonary telerehabilitation.
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Time frame: measured at ten weeks (study completion)