High Flow Nasal Cannula and Aerobic Capacity Training

High Flow Nasal Cannula Versus The Venturi Mask During Exercise Training in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients, a Randomized, Simple Blind, Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study is to compare exercise capacity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients before and after an 8 week pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Patients will be randomised in two groups, one arm will received oxygen through High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) and the other group by The Venturi Mask (VM)

Design: randomized, single blind, controlled trial.

The main goal of this study is to compare the exercise tolerance in COPD patients after an 8 week pulmonary rehabilitation program using High Flow Nasal Cannula or The Venturi Mask. The exercise tolerance will be measured in seconds in a Constant Load Treadmill Test (CTLT).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) or oxygen needs during exercise.
2. Clinically stable defined as four weeks without exacerbation

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Refusal to participate
2. Any neuromuscular, cardiovascular or any other condition that limits test performance.
3. Contraindication for exercise