Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a global health issue in 2022. COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide and the burden is expected to further increase over the coming years, due to continued exposure to risk factors and an aging population. Limitations in the ability to perform physical activity during daily life due to breathlessness and fatigue is a significant and ubiquitous burden for patients with COPD. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has identified reduction in breathlessness and improvements in the ability to perform physical activity as priority treatment goals in COPD and recommends that non-pharmacological approaches complement pharmacological treatments as part of the comprehensive management of COPD. In addition to being a treatment target, maintained or increased physical activity levels may also be viewed as a therapeutic intervention via interruption of the downward spiral of inactivity that predisposes patients to reduced quality of life, and increased rates of hospitalizations and mortality. Furthermore, exercise training, is a well-established, efficacious, non-pharmacological intervention in COPD and is the cornerstone of Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs.
Also, there is growing interest in understanding host-microbiome interactions and manipulating the lung microbiome by targeting specific microbes or microbial products as potential novel treatments. In this perspective, physical exercise-induced symbiotic lung microbiomes and their therapeutic potential for COPD pathology may deserve special attention.
The intended scope of this research topic is to address the therapeutic role of physical activity and exercise training in COPD. Studies of primary interest include:
- the effects of different exercise training protocols on muscle and respiratory physiology in patients with COPD
- comparison of physiological training effects in patients with COPD and healthy age-matched individuals
- the effects of exercise training alone and in combination with other interventions on clinical outcomes such as exertional breathlessness and exercise capacity in patients with COPD
- the development and evaluation of behavior change interventions to increase physical activity levels in patients with COPD and downstream effects on physiological and clinical measures
- development and evaluation of alternative remote exercise training protocols, e.g. using telehealth or other digital technology
Clinical intervention studies, meta-analysis studies and population-based cohort studies are welcome. Studies involving COPD animal models of COPD are also welcome. Perspective articles intended to stimulate future research by identifying key research questions in this area are also encouraged.
The topic supports #SDG3 Good Health and Well Being
Keywords:
COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Breathlessness, lung function, physical activity, exercise training
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a global health issue in 2022. COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide and the burden is expected to further increase over the coming years, due to continued exposure to risk factors and an aging population. Limitations in the ability to perform physical activity during daily life due to breathlessness and fatigue is a significant and ubiquitous burden for patients with COPD. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has identified reduction in breathlessness and improvements in the ability to perform physical activity as priority treatment goals in COPD and recommends that non-pharmacological approaches complement pharmacological treatments as part of the comprehensive management of COPD. In addition to being a treatment target, maintained or increased physical activity levels may also be viewed as a therapeutic intervention via interruption of the downward spiral of inactivity that predisposes patients to reduced quality of life, and increased rates of hospitalizations and mortality. Furthermore, exercise training, is a well-established, efficacious, non-pharmacological intervention in COPD and is the cornerstone of Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs.
Also, there is growing interest in understanding host-microbiome interactions and manipulating the lung microbiome by targeting specific microbes or microbial products as potential novel treatments. In this perspective, physical exercise-induced symbiotic lung microbiomes and their therapeutic potential for COPD pathology may deserve special attention.
The intended scope of this research topic is to address the therapeutic role of physical activity and exercise training in COPD. Studies of primary interest include:
- the effects of different exercise training protocols on muscle and respiratory physiology in patients with COPD
- comparison of physiological training effects in patients with COPD and healthy age-matched individuals
- the effects of exercise training alone and in combination with other interventions on clinical outcomes such as exertional breathlessness and exercise capacity in patients with COPD
- the development and evaluation of behavior change interventions to increase physical activity levels in patients with COPD and downstream effects on physiological and clinical measures
- development and evaluation of alternative remote exercise training protocols, e.g. using telehealth or other digital technology
Clinical intervention studies, meta-analysis studies and population-based cohort studies are welcome. Studies involving COPD animal models of COPD are also welcome. Perspective articles intended to stimulate future research by identifying key research questions in this area are also encouraged.
The topic supports #SDG3 Good Health and Well Being
Keywords:
COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Breathlessness, lung function, physical activity, exercise training
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
