Methods of rehabilitation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Clinical, laboratory, and functional investigations were performed in 279 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), mean age, 57.0 ± 2.4 years. According to severity of the disease, the patients were distributed as follows: 52.7 % had mild COPD and 47.3 % had moderatestage COPD. Mild respiratory failure was in 50.5 % of the patients, moderate respiratory failure was in 32.3 %, severe respiratory failure was in 17.2 % of the patients. All the patients were randomized in 8 equal groups. Seven groups of patients were treated with basic medications, balneological and electric therapy, and physiotherapy. The control group patients received physiotherapy and basic drugs. Non-drug treatment strategies have multiple effects not only on respiratory pathology but also on systemic manifestations of COPD; they have long-term post-treatment effect and could be targeted to certain mechanisms of the disease. This makes us to consider the physical therapeutic factors not only as a way to potentiate effects of basic medications but also as an important tool of secondary prevention of exacerbations and progression of COPD. Our clinical findings have been confirmed by morphological results, data of biochemical blood test, sputum microscopy, spirometry, monitoring of immune parameters, central haemodynamics and physical capacity, short-term and long-term assessment of quality of life.