Cycle test reliable for dyspnea evaluation in obese COPD patients

Eur Respir J 2013; Advance online publication

Dyspnea in obese individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD can be evaluated reliably by cycle ergometry as well as a treadmill test, researchers have found.

Although physiologic responses differed significantly according to the type of exercise that was chosen, dyspnea intensity, ventilation, and operating lung volumes were unaffected by the mode of exercise.

Obese patients are believed to experience greater dyspnea than normal weight individuals during walking exercises, but questions have been raised as to whether dyspnea measurement during the cycle test, where leg muscles are selectively stressed, accurately reflects normal daily activities, explain Denis O’Donnell Queen’s University & Kingston General Hospital, Ontario, Canada and colleagues.

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