Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effects of puhnonary rehabilitation on the symptoms and quality of life of persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods COPD patients were recruited from a hospital and community health centers and given pulmonary rehabilitation in the community.The rehabilitation program included health education and nutrition guidance,medication,breathing exercises,and physical exercise.Each patient was followed up every 4 weeks by telephone.The outcome measures included pulmonary function (FEV1％,FEV1/FVC％),St George's questionnaire (SGRQ),the Medical Research Council scale (MRC),Borg scoring,evaluation of anxiety and depression,the six-minute walk test (6MWT),and an evaluation of nutritional status.All of the patients were observed for one year.Results A total of 85 patients completed the program and were included in the final statistical analysis.There was no difference in FEV1 ％ before and after rehabilitation.Six-minute walking distance improved significantly in statistical terms but the average increase was only from (416.1 ±99.84)m to (437.51 ±116.17)m.The SGRQ scores decreased by an average of 4.8 points after a year of rehabilitation,with significant improvements among the moderately and severely impaired.Incidents of COPD exacerbation also decreased significantly.Patients with a low body mass index had the greatest SGRQ score improvments.Few patients showed depression or anxiety in this research population.Conclusions Pulmonary rehabilitation in the community can improve exercise tolerance and the quality of life for persons with COPD,reducing incidents of acute exacerbation.Patients may benefit from such pulmonary rehabilitation regardless of disease severity.The compliance was good despite the infrequent monitoring.Pulmonary rehabilitation in the community is worthy of more widespread use.