Combined Physical Exercise in Pulmonary Rehabilitation Does Not Alter Endothelial Function and Vascular Structure in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Pulmonary rehabilitation elicited improvement in symptoms, exercise capacity, quality of life, and parameters related to cardiorespiratory fitness. The endothelial function measured by FMD did not change with exercise. However, other cardiovascular risk factors such as blood markers, systemic blood pressure, and lower limb blood flow improved after PR.