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Respiratory Exercises in Frail Elderly COPD Patients

NCT07472530 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 66

Last updated 2026-04-13

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Purpose: This study evaluated the impact of a structured intervention on frailty, lung function, physical capacity, and dyspnea in elderly COPD patients. COPD, common in older adults, often coexists with frailty, which worsens health outcomes. While pulmonary rehabilitation improves function, its effect on frailty remains unclear. Procedures: A total of 66 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD were randomly allocated into two equal groups: an intervention group (n=33) and a control group (n=33). Participants in the intervention group completed a six-week pulmonary rehabilitation program. Both baseline and post-intervention evaluations comprised spirometric measurements (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF25-75, and PEF), the Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS), the six-minute walk test (6MWT), oxygen saturation levels, and assessments of dyspnea severity. Results: Significant improvements were observed in the intervention group in FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and PEF (p\<0.05). Total EFS scores and subdimensions such as mood, general health, and cognitive status also improved significantly (p\<0.05). Additionally, the intervention group showed increased 6MWT distance, higher oxygen saturation, and reduced dyspnea scores post-intervention (p\<0.05), with minimal changes in the control group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that pulmonary rehabilitation not only enhances pulmonary function and exercise capacity but also reduces frailty severity in elderly COPD patients. Integrating frailty-focused strategies into routine COPD management may improve outcomes and quality of life in this population.

Conditions

  • Fraility
  • COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
  • Older Adults (65 Years and Older)

Interventions

OTHER

breathing exercises

Initially, pre-test data were collected from both the intervention and control groups using the measurement instruments prior to the commencement of the exercise program. Subsequently, the intervention group underwent an eight-week exercise program using an incentive spirometer (Triflow) provided by the researchers. Patients were each given the same brand and model of Triflow device (manufactured in Turkey). Practical training on the use of the Triflow was provided, and visual materials prepared by the researcher were given to the patients. Exercise training was administered to the patients in the Chest Diseases Outpatient Clinic by the second author. Patients were instructed to perform the exercise hourly, 10 times per repetition, after waking up at home \[14\]. The breathing exercise program was evaluated weekly via telephone calls with the patients. No changes were made to the patients' inhaler treatments during the study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Çankırı Karatekin University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Serap KINDAP, MD · Çankırı Karatekin University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-08-01
Primary Completion
2023-10-01
Completion
2023-10-30

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07472530 on ClinicalTrials.gov