Interventions that included ET and PA counseling during PR were effective strategies to improve PA in COPD
BACKGROUND Physical inactivity is associated with poor outcomes in COPD , and as a result , interventions to improve physical activity ( PA ) are a current research focus .
However , many trials have been small and inconclusive .
OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic review and meta- analysis was to study the effects of r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) targeting PA in COPD .
Portable oxygen therapy: use and benefit in hypoxaemic COPD patients on long-term oxygen therapy.
In 159 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) patients ( 139 males , mean age 62 + /- 8 yrs , arterial oxygen tension ( PaO2 ) 7.2 + /- 0.9 kPa ) , on long-term oxygen therapy ( LTOT ) , we evaluated the effects of portable oxygen therapy both on the daily duration of oxygen therapy and on daily activities . They were given two types of LTOT at r and om : group A ( n = 75 ) , oxygen concentrators only ( OC ) ; group B ( n = 84 ) , either small oxygen cylinders plus OC ( B1 = 51 ) or liquid oxygen ( B2 = 33 ) . The patients were followed-up for one year by means of : a ) medical examination every three months ; b ) monthly home interviews concerning the daily duration of oxygen therapy , the utilization of the devices and the daily activities of the patients ; c ) a measurement of the  daily oxygen usage .  The results show that : 1 ) there are no significant clinical and functional differences between groups A and B at the onset of and throughout the study ; 2 ) in group B the daily use of oxygen therapy is significantly longer than in group A ( 17 + /- 3.5 h.day-1 vs 14 + /- 3 h.day-1 , p less than 0.01 ) without any difference between groups B1 and B2 ; 3 ) outdoor walking activities are different between groups A and B , at least in those patients using oxygen more than 18 h.day-1 . Only 60 % of patients in group B ( 55 % of B1 ; 67 % of B2 ) use their portable devices outdoors and for walking . No strict predictive criterion of this use is found in our study . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
Interventions that included ET and PA counseling during PR were effective strategies to improve PA in COPD
BACKGROUND Physical inactivity is associated with poor outcomes in COPD , and as a result , interventions to improve physical activity ( PA ) are a current research focus .
However , many trials have been small and inconclusive .
OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic review and meta- analysis was to study the effects of r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) targeting PA in COPD .