Effect of Oxygen-supply on 6-Minute-Walking-Distance of COPD III/IV-patients

Effect Of Oxygen-Supply On The 6-Minute-Walking-Distance in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) GOLD Stage III/IV Before And After A Multimodal Rehabilitation

The aim of this study is to investigate the six-minute-walking-distance of COPD-patients with breathing oxygen in comparison to breathing normal air. Patients, who increase their walking-distance about more than 15% or 35m only because of breathing oxygen, are so-called "Oxygen Responders." The study is aimed to find attributes of Oxygen Responder and to investigate, if a patient can change the "respond" with higher performance and endurance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease III/IV

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe exacerbations in the last 4 weeks prior to begin of study (definition of exacerbation: symptoms on more than 3 days with a relevant change in drug therapy (cortisone, antibiotics))
• Severe exacerbation during rehabilitation
• Cardiac insufficiency