PURPOSE: To compare the effects of short-term (3 months) and long-term (18 months) involvement in an exercise program on self-reported disability and physical function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A total of 140 patients with COPD were studied in a randomized, single-blinded clinical trial. Self-reported disability and physical function were assessed using a 21-item questionnaire, a 6-minute walk, timed stair climb, and an overhead task. RESULTS: At the completion of the trial, participants in the long-term intervention reported 12% less disability than those in the short-term intervention (adjusted mean with 95% confidence interval, 1.53 (1.43 to 1.63) versus 1.71 (1.61 to 1.81) units, respectively; p = 0.016), walked 6% farther during 6-minutes (1,815.0 (1,750.4 to 1,879.6) versus 1,711.5 (1,640.7 to 1,782.3) feet, respectively), climbed steps 11% faster (11.6 (11.0 to 12.2) versus 12.9 (12.3 to 13.5) seconds, respectively), and completed an overhead task 8% faster (46.8 (44.4 to 49.2) versus 50.4 (47.8 to 53.0) seconds, respectively) than those in the short-term intervention. CONCLUSION: An 18 month exercise program results in greater improvements in self-reported disability and physical function in patients with COPD when compared with a 3-month exercise program. As such, long-term exercise should be recommended for all patients with COPD.
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