One hundred and six patients admitted in a university hospital with AECOPD were randomized after discharge to either EPR for 8 weeks (EPR group) or usual care (UC) (UC group). All patients carried out the following initially and after 8 weeks: spirometry, 6minute walk test (SMWT), and a symptom-limited incremental cycle cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), and different dyspnea dimensions evaluation as following: Dyspnea intensity during incremental exercise using Borg scale, dyspnea 12 questionnaire and COPD assessment test (CAT) to assess sensory perceptual, affective distress, and symptom impact domains respectively.
