%0 Journal Article %A Bente Frisk %A Birgitte Espehaug %A Liv Inger Strand %A Jon Andrew Hardie %A Rolf Moe-Nilssen %A Tomas Eagan %A Per Bakke %A Einar Thorsen %T Longitudinal change in peak oxygen uptake in COPD patients %D 2014 %J European Respiratory Journal %P P2101 %V 44 %N Suppl 58 %X INTRODUCTION: Exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is impaired. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is an important outcome measure with respect to effects of rehabilitation and treatment, but few data are available on the natural longitudinal change.AIMS: To examine the longitudinal change in VO2peak in COPD patients and examine potential predictors of change.METHODS: This prospective observational study included 63 patients (35 men) aged 44-77 yrs, with COPD in GOLD stages II-IV with a mean forced expiratory volume in one sec (FEV1) of 51 % of predicted (SD=14). Two incremental exercise tests on treadmill were performed 4.5 yrs (SD=0.9) apart. Spirometry was performed before the exercise tests. The relationship between the change in VO2peak and VO2peak per kg body mass (VO2peak/kg), and the explanatory variables age, sex, body mass, baseline VO2peak and VO2peak/kg, exacerbations during the follow-up period, and changes in FEV1 and body mass between tests were analysed by multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean decline in VO2peak, was 50 (SD=68) mL/min/yr (p<0.001) and 0.6 (SD=1.0) mL/min/kg/yr (p<0.001). The decline in FEV1 was 34 (SD=66) mL/yr (p<0.001). The reduction in VO2peak was larger with a higher baseline VO2peak(p<0.001) and with a larger reduction in FEV1 (p<0.001). The same was found for the change in VO2peak/kg, but the reduction in VO2peak/kg was less with a larger reduction in body mass (p=0.007).CONCLUSION: Pulmonary function and exercise capacity in COPD patients declined during a follow-up period of 4.5 yrs. The decline in VO2peak and VO2peak/kg was related to the decline in FEV1. The decline in VO2peak/kg was also related to the change in body mass. %U