physioscience 2025; 21(S 03): S23
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1812401
Abstracts
Präsentationen/Presentations
PS 12

A randomized trial on the effect of supplemental oxygen during cycle endurance test in patients with COPD

Authors

  • E Willems

    1   Kantonsspital Winterthur, Institut für Therapien und Rehabilitation, Winterthur, Switzerland
    2   OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, MOVE-IT, St. Gallen, Switzerland

  • S Rezek

    1   Kantonsspital Winterthur, Institut für Therapien und Rehabilitation, Winterthur, Switzerland
    2   OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, MOVE-IT, St. Gallen, Switzerland

  • S Beyer

    3   Kantonsspital Winterthur, Klinik für Pneumologie, Winterthur, Switzerland

  • M Lichtblau

    4   Universitätsspital Zürich, Klinik für Pneumologie, Zürich, Switzerland

  • M Spruit

    5   CIRO, Department of Research and Development, Horn, Netherlands
    6   University of Maastricht, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht, Netherlands

  • S Ulrich

    4   Universitätsspital Zürich, Klinik für Pneumologie, Zürich, Switzerland

  • S Saxer

    2   OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, MOVE-IT, St. Gallen, Switzerland
    4   Universitätsspital Zürich, Klinik für Pneumologie, Zürich, Switzerland
Further Information
Also available at
 

Background Current guidelines recommend supplemental oxygen therapy (SOT) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with severe chronic hypoxemia at rest. However, guidance on the use of SOT in patients with exercise-induced desaturation remains to be investigated.

Methods This randomized controlled double blinded crossover study evaluated the effect of SOT on exercise endurance in COPD patients with exercise-induced desaturation (≥4% fall in SpO₂ during a 6-minute walk test) and that are normoxic (≥88%) at rest. Participants received in random order SOT or room air (5 L/min via nasal cannula) during two constant work rate exercise tests (CWRETs) at 75% Wmax. Endurance time, SpO₂, heart rate, Borg scale ratings for dyspnea and leg fatigue, and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements were collected. NIRS was used to assess tissue oxygenation at two sites: the upper leg (vastus lateralis) and the forehead (above the eyebrow) to monitor muscle and cerebral oxygenation, respectively.

Results Nineteen COPD patients (67 ± 9 years, BMI 27 ± 6 kg/m2, FEV₁ 50 ± 15% predicted) cycled longer with SOT compared to room air: 723 ± 225 s vs. 618 ± 268 s, respectively; mean difference: 106 s (95% CI: 21 to 191, p = 0.025). SpO₂ decreased to a lesser extent with SOT compared to room air: 96 ± 2% to 93 ± 3% vs. 93 ± 3% to 86 ± 5%, respectively. There was no difference in Borg dyspnea and leg fatigue scores at begin and end of the CWRET. NIRS data showed significantly higher cerebral oxygenation with SOT at the start (p = 0.041) and end (p = 0.0003) of CWRET compared to room air. No statistically significant difference was detected in the NIRS data for leg muscle oxygenation.

Conclusion SOT improved exercise endurance, SpO₂, and cerebral oxygenation, demonstrating its potential to alleviate exercise-induced desaturation and enhance performance in COPD patients with exercise-induced O₂ desaturation. It remains to be investigated if this effect further enhances exercise training outcomes during pulmonary rehabilitation.



Publication History

Article published online:
23 October 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany