Benefits obtained following a 12 week pulmonary rehabilitation programme : one year follow-up

Abstract

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a recommended standard of care for patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), based on a growing body of evidence. 60 subjects were recruited into a 12 week PR programme. The subjects were then followed up again at 28 and 52 weeks after completion of the programme. After 12 weeks of rehabilitation, significant improvements in various outcome measures were noted: 6 minute walk test (F 5, 274 = 7.978; SD 127, 95% CI 446, 519, p < 0.000) St. George's Quality of Life Questionnaire [Symptom domain = (F 5, 274 = 8.310, SD 16.7, 95% CI 18.22, 27.79, p < 0.001); Activity domain = (F 5, 274 = 9, 860, SD 21.54, 95% CI 32.50, 44.87, p < 0.001); Impact domain (F 5, 274 = 15, 303, SD 11.31, 95% CI 10.21, 16.70, p < 0.001) and Total score (F 5,274 = 14, 792; SD 13.37, 95% CI 18.48, 26.17, p < 0.001] ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression score (anxiety F 5, 273 = 5.666; SD 2.937, 95% CI 1.31, 3.01; p < 0.001; depression F 5, 273 = 5.666; SD 1.817, 95% CI 0.59, 1.70; p < 0.001); Borg scale at rest (F 5, 274 = 5.081; SD 1.339, 95% CI 0.00, 0.67; p < 0.044) and after exercise (F 5, 274 = 6.152; SD 1.566, 95% CI 1.63, 2.53; p < 0.040). Significant improvements were also noted in the BODE index (Body mass index, obstruction, dyspnoea and exercise score) = (F 5, 274 = 6.487; SD 1.852, 95% CI 2.63, 3.70; p < 0.001), COPD Assessment Test (F 5, 274 = 12, 253; SD 5.768, 95% 3.67, 6.98; p < 0.001). At weeks 28 and 52 there were no significant improvements or deteriorations in the patients conditions. Patients with mild to moderate severity reported improvements after 4 weeks of rehabilitation and continued to show improvements after 8 and 12 weeks in their 6 minute walk test. Those with severe COPD did not show significant changes at 12 weeks except for health related quality of life measures.