Prospective study of an outpatient-based pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases

Abstract

Background: Chronic pulmonary diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in our country. Patients with chronic pulmonary diseases have been shown to benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation programs (PRP). The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an outpatient-based PRP in improving the health outcomes in case of patients with chronic pulmonary diseases. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study of an outpatient-based PRP in 64 patients with chronic pulmonary diseases conducted over a 2 year period. The evaluations carried out at the baseline and at 4-6 weeks were spirometry, 6 min walk test (6MWT), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), Short Form-36 (SF-36), and Borg dyspnea scale. The PRP involved exercise training, education, and psychosocial/behavioral interventions. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using SPSS package IBM company. The proportions were compared using Chi-square (c2 ) test. Results: Sixty-four patients with chronic pulmonary diseases were studied, out of which 30 (46.8%) had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 27 (42%) had chronic persistent bronchial asthma, 6 (9.4%) had restrictive lung disease (RLD), and 1 (1.5%) had bronchiectasis. There was a male preponderance of cases (71.3%). After the 6 week PRP, there was a significant improvement in the 6MWT, SGRQ, SF-36, and Borg dyspnea scale in all the patients and in the various subgroups of patients with COPD, asthma, and RLD. Besides, there was a significant change in pulmonary function and oxygen saturation in all the patients with asthma (P < 0.05) but not in those with COPD and RLD. Conclusion: An outpatient-based 6 week PRP in a tertiary care setting resulted in a significant improvement in exercise tolerance, dyspnea, and quality of life in those patients with a chronic pulmonary disease.