The effects of a reactivation programme for patients with both COPD and heart failure on exercise capacity and quality of life, a pilot study

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is an important co-morbidity in patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The beneficial effects of
community based reactivation programmes on exercise tolerance have already been
demonstrated in patients with solely COPD or solely CHF. However, the evidence
for treatment of patients with a combination of COPD and CHF is surprisingly
slim since patients with co-morbidity are more or less routinely excluded from
the majority of studies.

This pilot study will investigate whether patients with both COPD and CHF who
participated in a community based reactivation programme have a higher exercise
capacity and a better health related quality of life after the programme in
comparison with before.

The design of the study is a pilot intervention study with a measurement before
and after the study.

The patients will participate in a 10 weeks community based reactivation
programme under supervision of a physiotherapist. The programme contains
cycling, walking, lifting and muscle strength training of the m. Quadriceps.
Two self-management session under supervision of a nurse practioner will also
be part of the intervention.

The risk of the study is negligible. Patients will train under supervision of
educated physiotherapists. The physiotherapists will stop or modify the
training intervention when one of the following symptoms occur: 1) marked
shortness of breath or fatigue (Borg scale >13); 2) respiratory rate >
40/minute during exercise; 3) weight gain of more than two kilograms within 2-3
days. The patients have to come three times to the hospital to undergo physical
tests and to fill in questionnaires.