Bronchodilators for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Glittre Trial)

This project is aimed to assess the responsiveness of the Glittre ADL-test and the 1-Minute Sit-to-Stand test (1-Minute STST) to acute bronchodilation in patients with COPD. We also aim to investigate the physiological and perceptual response to bronchodilation of the Glittre ADL-test and the 1-minute STST. The specific objectives are 1)To measure the changes in time for completion of the Glittre ADL-test and the number of standing up during the 1-minute STST induced by a single dose of nebulized ipratropium bromide/salbutamol sulfate against those induced by a placebo in patients with moderate to severe COPD and 2)To compare in patients with moderate to severe COPD the CR (minute ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and heart rate) and symptomatic (dyspnea and leg fatigue perception) responses during the Glittre ADL-test and the 1-Minute STST following a single dose of ipratropium bromide/salbutamol sulfate or placebo. We suppose among others that the Glittre test completion time will be lesser, that the number of repetitions in the 1-Minute STST will be higher and symptoms intensity will be lesser among patients with COPD receiving bronchodilators.