• Audrey Borghi-Silva, Ross Arena, Viviane Castello, Rodrigo Polaquini Simões, Luis Eduardo Barreto Martins, Aparecida Maria Catai, and Dirceu Costa.
• Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Laboratory, Nucleus of Research in Physical Exercise, Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Sao Carlos, UFSCar, Rodovia Washington Luis, KM 235, Monjolinho, CEP: 13565-905 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil. audrey@ufscar.br
• Respir Med. 2009 Oct 1; 103 (10): 1503-10.

ObjectivesAutonomic modulation is adversely impacted in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The purpose of the present investigation is to assess the effects of a 6-week aerobic exercise training program on autonomic modulation of heart rate in patients with COPD.MethodsForty patients of both sexes with moderate-to-severe COPD were randomly allocated to aerobic exercise training (PT, n=20) or to usual care (Control, n=20). The training program consisted of lower and upper limb stretching and 30 min of treadmill exercise, 3 times per week for a 6-week period. Physiological data during symptom-limited exercise testing and the six-minute walk test (6MWT) were assessed. In addition, R-R intervals were obtained at rest and during the 6MWT. Heart rate variability was analyzed by time (rMSSD and SDNN index) and frequency domains (high frequency--HF, low frequency--LF and HF/LF ratio).ResultsPeak oxygen consumption significantly improved in the training group only (p<0.05). Moreover, the training group demonstrated significant improvements (p<0.05) in blood lactate, minute ventilation, dyspnea at peak exercise, sympathetic activity, and parasympathetic activity at rest and during submaximal exercise. Lastly, a positive and significant correlation was found between change in 6MWT distance and rMSSD index (r=0.65 and p=0.001).ConclusionsNeural control of heart rate, in addition to other clinically valuable measures, is positively altered in moderate-severe COPD patients following 6 weeks of aerobic exercise training. The improvement in submaximal performance after exercise training was associated with parasympathetic activity.

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