Peak Exercise Response to Vertical Climbing in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

Stair climbing is an integral component of daily living, which is limited in COPD. To date, stair climbing is used for prediction of VO_2Max, pulmonary function, and postoperative complications. The study is designed to understand respiratory limitations and facilitate training.

To correlate peak exercise response to vertical climbing in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

It was Prospective Correlational study. Fifty COPD patients satisfying the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The patients underwent a stair climb test. Outcome measures were recorded as peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SPO₂), heart rate and rate of perceived dyspnoea on Borg scale on pre-and post-test. Mini wright peak expiratory flow meter and hand held pulse oximeter was used to measure PEFR and SPO₂and HR respectively. Vertical height of floor climbed and time taken to climb was recorded.

There was significant increase in HR, RR, dyspnoea score and significant drop in SPO₂and PEFR on vertical stair climbing with p<0.05. A significant negative correlation was observed between vertical height climbed and oxygen saturation (r=-0.57). A significant positive correlation was observed between vertical height climbed and respiratory rate (r=0.31) and Dyspnoea score on Borg scale (r=0.31). No correlation was found between vertical height climbed and PEFR (r=-0.09).

ΔSPO₂, ΔRR and Δdyspnoea score on Borg scale correlate with vertical height climbed in COPD.