Meta- analysis revealed few clinical ly relevant and statistically significant benefits of " add-on " therapies on exercise performance compared with exercise training .
The aim of this review was to identify the effectiveness of therapies added on to conventional exercise training to maximise exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) .
Administration of growth hormone to underweight patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A prospective, randomized, controlled study.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) often develop weight loss , which is associated with increased mortality . Recombinant human growth hormone ( rhGH ) treatment has been proposed to improve nitrogen balance and to increase muscle strength in these patients . The aim of this study was to assess the effects of rhGH administration on the nutritional status , resting metabolism , muscle strength , exercise tolerance , dyspnea , and subjective well-being of underweight patients with stable COPD . Sixteen patients attending a pulmonary rehabilitation program ( age : 66 + /- 9 yr ; weight : 77 + /- 7 % of ideal body weight ; FEV1 : 39 + /- 13 % of predicted ) were r and omly treated daily with either 0.15 IU/kg rhGH or placebo during 3 wk in a double-blind fashion . Measurements were made at the beginning ( DO ) and at the end ( D21 ) of treatment and 2 mo later ( D81 ) . Body weight was similar in the two groups during the study , but lean body mass was significantly higher in the rhGH group at D21 ( p < 0.01 ) and D81 ( p < 0.05 ) . The increase in lean body mass was 2.3 + /- 1.6 kg in the rhGH group and 1.1 + /- 0.9 kg in the control group at D21 and 1.9 + /- 1.6 kg in the rhGH group and 0.7 + /- 2.1 kg in the control group at D81 . At D21 , the resting energy expenditure was increased in the rhGH group ( 107.8 % of DO , p < 0.001 compared with the control group ) . At D21 and D81 , the changes in maximal respiratory pressures , h and grip strength , maximal exercise capacity , and subjective well-being were similar in the two groups . At D21 , the 6-min walking distance decreased in the rhGH group ( -13 + /- 31 % ) and increased in the control group ( + 10 + /- 14 % ; p < 0.01 ) . We conclude that the daily administration of 0.15 IU/kg rhGH during 3 wk increases lean body mass but does not improve muscle strength or exercise tolerance in underweight patients with COPD
Meta- analysis revealed few clinical ly relevant and statistically significant benefits of " add-on " therapies on exercise performance compared with exercise training .
The aim of this review was to identify the effectiveness of therapies added on to conventional exercise training to maximise exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) .