Home-based Exercise Training for COPD Patients (HOMEX-2)

Effects of a Long-term Home-based Exercise Training Program Using Minimal Equipment vs Usual Care in COPD Patients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a home-based exercise training program in COPD patients who did not participate in an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation program within the last 2 years.

Exercise training is an important component of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and numerous trials have shown large improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and exercise capacity in persons with COPD. However, the great majority of patients who would benefit from PR never follow such a program. Moreover, many COPD patients are either not instructed to exercise at all or fail to adhere to exercise training at home after completing PR.

This study evaluates a newly developed exercise training program that requires minimal equipment (i.e., only a chair and elastic bands) and can be easily implemented long-term in the patient's home-setting.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Signed informed consent after being informed
• Diagnosis of COPD, defined as forced expiratory volume in 1s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC)<70% predicted, FEV1<80 % predicted after bronchodilation, with or without chronic symptoms (cough, sputum production) corresponding to a GOLD stage II-IV
• No participation in an inpatient or outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation within the last 12 months
• Male and female patients ≥40 years of age
• Knowledge of German language to understand study material and assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients not able to conduct the exercise training program due to physical, cognitive or safety reasons, as judged by investigator; e.g., lower limb joint surgery within preceding 3 months, unstable cardiac disease, predominant neurological limitations.
• Planned participation in a pulmonary rehabilitation program