Abstract

Objective. The objective of the study was to evaluate the training heart rate in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Material and methods. The study was carried out at the John Paul II Specialist Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration in Głuchołazy at the pulmonary rehabilitation department. Two hundred and five people participated in the study. Each patient included in the study was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The group consisted of 100 women and 105 men. Rehabilitation models A and B were used in the study. 155 people were included in model B, and 50 people in model A. The average age was 55. The patients underwent a 6-minute walk test before and after rehabilitation. The following data was included in the study: walk test maximum heart rate, the patient’s maximum heart rate and resting heart rate.

Results. Before rehabilitation, 121 patients achieved a result of over 70% of the values determining the correlation between the 6MWT test heart rate and the submaximal heart rate, which constitutes 60% of all patients. However, the mean value of this correlation among all patients was 74.69%. After rehabilitation, 143 patients achieved a result of more than 70% of the values determining the correlation between the 6MWT test heart rate and the submaximal heart rate, which is 70% of all patients. However, the mean value of this correlation among all patients was 79.19%. Before rehabilitation, 205 patients achieved a result of more than 70% of the values determining the correlation between the 6MWT test heart rate and the submaximal heart rate, which constitutes 99.51% of all patients. While, the mean value of this correlation among all patients was 92%. The number of patients who, before rehabilitation, achieved more than 70% of the values determining the correlation between the 6MWT test heart rate and the submaximal heart rate, was 100% of all patients. The mean value of this correlation among all patients was 90.15%.

Conclusions. 1. The maximum heart rate achieved by patients during the 6-minute walk test corresponds to the maximum heart rate before rehabilitation in 60% of patients, and after rehabilitation in 70% of patients.

2. The maximum heart rate achieved by patients during the 6-minute walk test corresponds to the training heart rate before rehabilitation in 95% of patients, and after rehabilitation in 100% of patients.

3. It seems the maximum heart rate achieved by patients during the 6-minute walk test can be used in determining the patient’s load during exercise.

Key words:

COPD, pulmonology, exercise heart rate, physiotherapy