Patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (
COPD ) have been shown to be benefit from pulmonary
rehabilitation programs. We assessed an entirely
outpatient -based program of pulmonary
rehabilitation in
patients with
COPD , using the St George’s Respiratory
Questionnaire (SGRQ) and six minutes
walking distance test (6MWD) (which
measures health-related quality of life and functional
exercise tolerance ) as the primary
outcome measure . We undertook a randomized, opened, prospective, parallel-group controlled study of
outpatient rehabilitation program in 56
patients with
COPD (52
men and 4
women ). The active group (n=27) took part in a 6-weeks program of
education and
exercise . The
control group (n=29) were reviewed routinely as medical
outpatients . The SGRQ and 6MWD were administered at study entry and after 6 weeks. Outcome with SGRQ and 6MWD before and after
therapy was performed. Decrease score SGRQ and increase 6MWD in both groups of study, it was analyzed by
statistic study and in active group the decrease of SGRQ and the increase of 6MWD was statistically significant. In conclusion 6-weeks
outpatient -based program significantly improved
quality of life and functional capacity in mild-to-moderate
COPD patient .