It has been scientifically proven that pulmonary rehabilitation improves exercise tolerance and facilitates the carrying out of daily physical activities. To optimize the physical and physiological benefits, it is necessary to individualize the training intensity for each patient. The aim of this study is to compare the heart rate (HR) responses to three exercise modalities measuring aerobic fitness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, in order to easily prescribe individual target HRs for endurance training.
Fifty COPD patients (mean age: 60.1±8.5 years) were included in the study. Each patient carried out a cardiopulmonary exercise test, a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and a 6-minute stepper test (6MST). During these tests, HR was recorded continuously. After the cardiopulmonary exercise test, the HR was noted at the ventilatory threshold (VT) and at the end of the two exercise field tests (6MWT peak and 6MST peak). The values of the HR during the last 3 minutes of both field tests were averaged (6MWT 456 and 6MST 456). Finally, the HR at 60% of the HR reserve was calculated with the values of the HR measured during 6MWT and 6MST (HRr 60%walk, HRr 60%step).
The HRs measured during the 6MST were significantly higher than those measured during the 6MWT. The HRr 60%step was not significantly different from 6MWT 456 and 6MWT peak HR ( P=0.51; P=0.48). A significant correlation was observed between 6MWT 456 and 6MWT peak ( r=0.58). The 6MWT 456 and 6MWT peak HR were correlated with HRr 60%step ( r=0.68 and r=0.62). The VT could be determined in 28 patients. The HR VT was not different from 6MWT 456, 6MWT peak, and HRr 60%step ( P=0.57, P=0.41 and P=0.88) and was correlated to 6MWT 456, 6MWT peak, and HRr 60%step ( r=0.45, r=0.40, r=0.48).