PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of exercise on endothelial function and other cardiovascular risk factors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Forty patients were randomized to an 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program or usual care. Symptoms, exercise capacity, and quality of life were measured at baseline and after intervention or observation. Flow-mediated brachial artery dilation (FMD), ankle-brachial index, intermittent claudication questionnaire, cardiovascular risk score, blood pressure, daily steps count, glucose, lipids, and C-reactive protein were evaluated before and after intervention. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 64.2 +/- 6.7 years in the PR group and 62.2 +/- 8.0 years in the usual care group. The forced expiratory volume in the first second was 45.5 +/- 15.4% predicted in the PR group and 48.1 +/- 24.3% predicted in the usual care group. Attending PR was associated with reduced symptoms, improved exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with COPD (p < 0.005 for all). Endothelial function did not improve after PR (FMD% at baseline 9.38 +/- 4.40 versus 9.67 +/- 6.56 post PR; p = 0.87), and there was no difference between the 2 groups (p = 0.61). However, exercise reduced C-reactive protein, triglycerides, and glucose and improved cardiovascular risk score, systemic blood pressure, and ankle-brachial index (p < 0.005 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary rehabilitation elicited improvement in symptoms, exercise capacity, quality of life, and parameters related to cardiorespiratory fitness. The endothelial function measured by FMD did not change with exercise. However, other cardiovascular risk factors such as blood markers, systemic blood pressure, and lower limb blood flow improved after PR.
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