| Objective: To investigate the effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in stable stage with tobacco dependence. Methods: A total of 60 COPD patients were randomly divided into control group (n=30) and treatment group (n=30). The control group was given routine medication, lifestyle intervention, smoking cessation education, and sham rTMS. On the basis of routine medication, lifestyle intervention and smoking cessation education, the treatment group received high-frequency rTMS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) combined with smoking cues. Smoking craving (VAS), urinary cotinine concentration (UC), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQI), 6-min walking test (6MWT) and the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) were assessed before and after treatment of 5 weeks. Results: Finally, 57 patients (26/27) completed the whole intervention, and the results were included in statistical analysis. After treatment, VAS score, UC, PSQI score, and 6MWD in the treatment group were significantly improved as compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and significantly better than those in the control group ［VAS (P<0.05), UC (P<0.05), PSQI (P<0.05)］. SF-36 scores of role-emotional (RE) (P<0.05), vitality (VT) (P<0.05), mental health (MH) (P<0.05) and general health (GH) (P<0.05) were significantly improved as compared with those before treatment, and significantly better than those in the control group ［RE (P<0.05), VT (P<0.05), MT (P<0.05), GH (P<0.05)］. Conclusion: High-frequency rTMS can improve smoking craving, cigarette consumption, exercise endurance and quality of life in patients on moderate to severe COPD patients in stable stage with tobacco dependence. |
