Clinical Trial

Respiratory Exercises in Frail Elderly COPD Patients

Completed
View on ClinicalTrials.gov →
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.
Protocol Amendment History 1 amendment
This ClinicalTrials.gov record has been amended once since 2026-03-13.
Trial Details
NCT Number NCT07472530
Lead Sponsor Çankırı Karatekin University
Conditions Fraility, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), Older Adults (65 Years and Older)
Enrollment 66 participants
Start Date 2023-08-01
Primary Completion 2023-10-01 (estimated)
Study Completion 2023-10-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov 2026-04-13