Abstract: Six studies involving 126 participants who completed the study protocols were included. Most studies recruited participants with severe to very severe COPD (mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) ranged from 26% to 48% predicted). There was an increase in percentage change peak and endurance exercise capacity with NIV during training (mean difference in peak exercise capacity 17%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7% to 27%, 60 participants, low-quality evidence; mean difference in endurance exercise capacity 59%, 95% CI 4% to 114%, 48 participants, low-quality evidence). However, there was no clear evidence of a difference between interventions for all other measures of exercise capacity. The results for HRQL assessed using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire do not rule out an effect of NIV (total score mean 2.5 points, 95% CI -2.3 to 7.2, 48 participants, moderate-quality evidence). Physical activity was not assessed in any study. There was an increase in training intensity with NIV during training of 13% (95% CI 1% to 27%, 67 participants, moderate-quality evidence), and isoload lactate was lower with NIV (mean difference -0.97 mmol/L, 95% CI -1.58mmol/L to -0.36 mmol/L, 37 participants, moderate-quality evidence). The effect of NIV on dyspnoea or the number of dropouts between interventions was uncertain, although again results were imprecise. No adverse events and no information regarding cost were reported. Only one study blinded participants, whereas three studies used blinded assessors. Adequate allocation concealment was reported in four studies. The small number of included studies with small numbers of participants, as well as the high risk of bias within some of the included studies, limited our ability to draw strong evidence-based conclusions. Although NIV during lower limb exercise training may allow people with COPD to exercise at a higher training intensity and to achieve a greater physiological training effect compared with exercise training alone or exercise training with sham NIV, the effect on exercise capacity is unclear. Some evidence suggests that NIV during exercise training improves the percentage change in peak and endurance exercise capacity; however, these findings are not consistent across other measures of exercise capacity. There is no clear evidence that HRQL is better or worse with NIV during training. It is currently unknown whether the demonstrated benefits of NIV during exercise training are clinically worthwhile or cost-effective.

Plain-language summary: The evidence is current to November 2013. We included six studies involving 126 participants who completed the study protocols. Most studies recruited participants with severe to very severe COPD. The average age of participants ranged from 63 to 71 years. Cycling or treadmill exercise training was performed in the studies. The duration of exercise training programmes ranged from six to twelve weeks. The percentage change in peak exercise capacity increased by an average of 17% in three studies, and the percentage change in endurance exercise capacity by an average of 59% in two studies that provided NIV during training compared with training without NIV or training with sham NIV. However, these improvements in exercise capacity were not consistent findings as there was no clear evidence that NIV improved all other measures of exercise capacity. The results for quality of life were uncertain and our analysis did not exclude there being an effect with NIV during exercise training in two studies. Physical activity was not assessed in any of the studies. Non-invasive ventilation allowed participants to exercise at a higher training intensity (average of 13% higher) in three studies, and evidence of a greater training effect on the muscles was found in two studies, as a marker in the blood (isoload blood lactate) was significantly lower by an average of 0.97 mmol/L. No information regarding adverse events or cost was reported. It is currently unknown whether demonstrated benefits of NIV during exercise training are clinically worthwhile or cost-effective. This review was generally limited by the small number of included studies and the small numbers of participants within the included studies. The quality of the evidence was low for exercise capacity outcomes, largely because of issues with study design. Consequently, the effect of NIV during exercise training on exercise capacity is uncertain. The quality of the evidence for quality of life, training intensity and isoload blood lactate was moderate, and these findings can be interpreted with a greater degree of confidence.