Table 1 Detailed description of the included studies

Vivodtzev [5]

COPD patients (n = 17)

Prospective randomized trial

Trained, n = 10

(47 ± 20%)

Untrained, n = 7

(54 ± 13%)

(c-r PWV)

Duration: 4 weeks.

Session detail:

5 day/wk. (18 ± 8 to 30 ± 12 min exercise time)

Intensity training endurance:

Intensity was increased depending on the tolerance of the patients (to 6/10 on Borg scale). PWR increased from 38% ± 12% to 65% ± 12% of peak workload at the end of training.

↓ aPWV in Trained group

Baseline measurement (10.3 ± 0.7 m/s)

After intervention

(9.2 ± 0.8 m/s)

P = 0.001

Gale [6]

Controls

(n = 20)

COPD patients

(n = 32)

Prospective cohort study

(45 ± 20%)

(aPWV)

Duration: 7 weeks.

Duration/ sessions:

3 day/wk. (2.25 h exercise time)

Intensity training endurance:

The ISWT was used to set the intensity of exercise training at 60–70% VO2 peak.

↓ aPWV

Baseline measurement

(9.8 ± 3.0 m/s)

After intervention

(9.3 ± 2.7 m/s)

P = <0.05

Vanfleteren [7]

Controls

(n = 168)

COPD patients

(n = 162)

Prospective cohort study

(51.4 ± 17.4%)

(aPWV)

Duration: 8 weeks

Duration/ sessions:

5 day/wk. (duration not specified)

Intensity training endurance:

Moderate to high intensity. The intensity was increased during the rehabilitation period, based on dyspnoea and fatigue symptom scores.

No change in aPWV

Baseline measurement (10.7 ± 2.7 m/s)

After intervention (10.9 ± 2.5 m/s)

P = 0.339