Reduction of hospital admissions after pulmonary rehabilitation of geriatric patients with COPD

Abstract

Introduction: Pulmonary rehabilitation has been proven effective in the management of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, geriatric patients are frequently not accepted for regular pulmonary rehabilitation programs due to low physical condition and serious comorbidities. Recently, rehabilitation programs for geriatric patients with COPD have been developed. The effects of such programs are largely unknown. Aims: To assess the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation of geriatric COPD-patients in a nursing home setting on future hospital admissions. Methods: Seventy-nine participants of the geriatric pulmonary rehabilitation program were included. The follow up was 12 months after discharge from rehabilitation. Data were collected from hospital en nursing home databases. Outcome was measured as a decrease or stagnation in the number of hospital admission days due to COPD-related illness during the follow-up period compared to the year before participating in the rehabilitation program. Results: Fifty-six patients survived the first year after discharge and five patients died during the rehabilitation period. The mean number of hospital admission days in the year before rehabilitation was 23.3 (SD 16.9.) and in the year after rehabilitation 8.8 (SD 10.3 ). The mean difference was 14.5 days (SD 19.3; p Conclusions: Pulmonary rehabilitation in the nursing home setting seems to reduce hospital admissions in frail COPD patients.