COPD
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The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) has not yet been solidly established. ⋯ We estimated the group-level MCID for DLCO for patients with severe and very severe COPD patients as 1.1 ml/min/mmHg and 11% of baseline DLCO.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) with standard exhalation valve does not improve maximum exercise capacity in patients with COPD.
Although BiPAP has been used as an adjunct to exercise, little is know about its effect on exercise in COPD. We aimed to evaluate the acute effect of BiPAP delivered with a standard valve (Vision, Respironics), compared to no assist, on exercise capacity in individuals with COPD. ⋯ Use of BiPAP with a standard exhalation valve during exercise increases VT and VE at the expense of augmenting VCO2 and dyspnea, which in turns reduces WLpeak in COPD patients.