Abstract
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective, evidenced-based treatment. Despite its proven effect, it is still underused. The aim of this study was to present the number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who underwent PR, general mortality percentages, the rate of patients prescribed PR by pulmonologists, and the distribution of institutions where PR was performed between 2008 and 2016 in Turkey. The documents were obtained from Turkish Institution of Social Insurance. Ages, sexes, and numbers of patients with COPD who underwent PR between 2008 and 2016 were recorded. The number of patients with COPD who had been prescribed PR by physicians and the type of hospitals in which these patients underwent PR were identified. The general annual and the general total mortality rates between 2008 and 2016 among patients with COPD who underwent PR in 2008 were also determined. The mean age ranges of patients with COPD who underwent PR were 67.4 ± 12.3 to 72.0 ± 13.2 years, and 62.2% (n = 60,852) of patients were male. The number of patients increased progressively from 3,214 to 18,664. The rate of patients prescribed PR programs between 2008 and 2016 was between 0.32% and 0.59% among all registered patients with COPD. Between 52.0% and 94.8% (5,488/10,549 and 16,792/17,707 patients, respectively) of the programs were prescribed by a pulmonologist, and 62.9% (n = 62,613) of patients received PR in secondary public hospitals. The general annual mortality rates were between 6.2% and 11.1% (115/1,855 and 358/3,214 patients) in patients who underwent PR in 2008, and the general total mortality rate was 52.8% (1,696/3,214 patients) over the 9-year period in the same patient group. PR was still an underutilized approach in Turkey between 2008 and 2016. The awareness of PR should be increased in our country. In order to achieve this, we think that PR should be within the scope of health policies.
Highlights
The mean age ranges of patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who underwent Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) were 67.4 ± 12.3 to 72.0 ± 13.2 years, and 62.2% (n = 60,852) of patients were male
Between 52.0% and 94.8% (5,488/10,549 and 16,792/17,707 patients, respectively) of the programs were prescribed by a pulmonologist, and 62.9% (n = 62,613) of patients received PR in secondary public hospitals
The awareness of PR should be increased in our country
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is defined as “a common, preventable, and treatable disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that are due to airway or alveolar abnormalities (or both), usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases” [1]. It is characterized by decreased exercise capacity, dyspnea, worsened quality of life, and exacerbations, which result in deterioration of these symptoms. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective, evidenced-based treatment modality in all symptomatic patients with chronic respiratory disease whose exercise capacity is reduced and quality of life is deteriorated, regardless of disease severity [1]. The aim of this study was to present the number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who underwent PR, general mortality percentages, the rate of patients prescribed PR by pulmonologists, and the distribution of institutions where PR was performed between 2008 and 2016 in Turkey
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