Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasing worldwide health problem characterized by progressive destruction of lung tissue. In the shadow of the pandemic, COPD patients may suffer more severely from COVID-19 with worse prognosis and higher mortality rate. This may be due to common underlying risk factors such as smoking, cardiovascular disease and a sedative life style. To cope with the soaring burden on the health care system posed by the aftermath of the pandemic in the context of chronic diseases such as COPD, the importance of self-responsibility to increase quality of life is emerging. New guidelines from the 2020 GOLD Science Committee Report on COVID-19 and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease support exercise in the management of COPD and after COVID-19 infection, even during mild COVID-19 symptoms. However, little is known about the molecular alterations induced by exercise training and how to boost the body´s ability to halt disease progression in COPD.
The hypothesize is that adjusted exercise training increases the ability to cope with biological stress, which is increased in COPD due to i.e. chronic inflammation and a history of smoking, and may facilitate restoration of damaged tissue. In this proposal the anticipation is to link the effects of physical exercise to amelioration of vital lung parameters, physical strength including 6 min walk test, and quality of life, by evaluating biomarkers for stem cell activity, regeneration and inflammation in lung tissue biopsies and blood samples. This will also result in the recognition of pathways that are targetable for novel pharmaceuticals that could synergize with the training effect.
