Exercise alleviates depression related systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Background: Depression is a highly prevalent co-morbidity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which was shown to be associated with a worse course of disease, including reduced quality of life and increased symptoms burden, healthcare use, and even mortality. It has been speculated that systemic inflammation may play a role in the presence of depression. Currently, physical activity is an important lifestyle factor that has the potential to modify inflammatory cytokines and depression, however our understanding of how to use exercise effectively in COPD patients to alleviate depression related systemic inflammation is incomplete and has prompted our interest to identify the type and intensities of effective exercise. Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the changes in depression related systemic inflammation of aerobic exercise training in COPD patients in Jeddah area. Material and methods: Eighty patients with moderate severity of COPD participated in this study and were divided into two groups; the first group received aerobic exercise, whereas the second group received no exercise training for 12 weeks. Results: The mean values of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were significantly decreased in in group (A) after treatments, but the changes in group (B) were not significant. Also, there were significant differences between mean levels of the investigated parameters in group (A) and group (B) at the end of the study. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise is an effective treatment policy to improve depression related to systemic inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.