Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program In Patients Research Articles

The role of telehealth interventions in pulmonary rehabilitation programs for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Background: Telehealth interventions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management have garnered attention for their potential to enhance access to care and improve patient outcomes. Various studies have explored the effectiveness of telerehabilitation programs, innovative telemedicine platforms, and home-based PR initiatives in addressing the needs of COPD patients. Methods and materials: A selection criterion was determined after a thorough literature review across search engines and databases. SANRA guidelines were followed to draft the manuscript. Objectives: Exploring the impact of telehealth interventions on the effectiveness and the outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation programs for patients with COPD. Discussions: The discussions revolve around the positive impact of telehealth interventions on exercise capacity, self-efficacy, and quality of life for COPD patients. Studies highlight the convenience and accessibility offered by telemedicine platforms as well as the effectiveness of in-home telerehabilitation programs. However, challenges such as technical issues, data security concerns, and disparities in access to technology need to be addressed for successful implementation.

Role of detailed psychological evaluation and treatment in pulmonary rehabilitation programs for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Psychological co-morbidities are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but remain overlooked. Psychosocial interventions are deemed to promote mental health and optimize management. This study aimed to determine the role of detailed psychological evaluation and treatment in the comprehensive management of COPD. COPD patients after screening with the general health questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) for psychological co-morbidity were divided into three groups (26 patients each): i) group A [GHQ-12 score<3, received pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and standard medical management]; ii and iii) group B and C (GHQ-12 score>3, in addition, received management by a psychiatrist and counseling by a pulmonologist, respectively). At baseline and 8 weeks of follow-up, all participants were evaluated for respiratory [forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), six-minute walk distance (6-MWD), St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ), modified medical research council (mMRC) dyspnea scale], and psychological [GHQ-12, patient distress thermometer (PDT), coping strategy checklist (CSCL), World Health Organization-quality of life-brief (WHOQOL-Bref-26), and depression anxiety stress scales (DASS)] parameters. Psychological distress (GHQ-12>3) decreased significantly at follow-up, with 11.5% and 53.8% of patients having psychological distress in groups B and C, respectively, versus baseline (p<0.001). mMRC score, SGRQ score, FEV1 and 6-MWD significantly improved in all three groups. Improvement in mMRC and SGRQ was maximal in group B when compared with the other groups. PDT, CSCL, and WHO-QOL-Bref-26 scores improved significantly at follow-up in all three groups, with maximum improvement in group B, followed by group C, and then group A. The DASS score also improved maximally in group B. Patients should be screened for psychological co-morbidities using simple screening tools. PR plays an important role in improving the psychology of COPD patients. However, results are better with directed psycho-educative sessions by non-experts and best with definitive treatment by psychiatrists.

Personalized pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19: A proof-of-concept retrospective study.

Long-COVID patients present with a decline in physical fitness. The aim of this study is to reveal the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on physical fitness, quality of life (QoL), and parameters of quantified thorax CT. Long-COVID patients enrolled in a 3-month PR program were retrospectively studied. PR included endurance and resistance training three times a week. Assessments pre- and post-rehabilitation included quantified chest CT, pulmonary function tests (PFT), six-minute walk test (6MWT), cardiopulmonary exercise test, and questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, post-COVID-19 Functional Status scale, Borg score, and EuroQol. Seventeen subjects (5M/12F), mean age 42 ± 13 years, were included. PR improved all questionnaires' results significantly. Only significant difference in PFT parameters was correlation between baseline total lung capacity (TLC) and difference in TLC pre- and post-rehabilitation (p = 0.002). 6MWT increased from 329 to 365 m (p < 0.001), VO2max changed from 21 to 24 mL/kg/min (p = 0.007), peak load increased from 116 to 141 Watt (p < 0.001). Blood volume in small pulmonary vessels of 1.25 to 5 mm2 in cross-sectional area (BV5%) was higher than observed in patients with acute COVID-19 infection. After rehabilitation, BV5% decreased from 65% to 62% (p = 0.020). These changes correlated directly with changes in TLC (p = 0.039). Quantified CT airway volume increased after rehabilitation (p = 0.013). After rehabilitation, TLC tended to normalize due to (re)opening of small airways, with decline in air trapping and recruitment of alveoli. Furthermore, this study revealed that pulmonary rehabilitation can improve QoL and physical fitness in long-COVID patients.

Implementation of a pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients with long COVID in Northeastern region of Brazil: a feasibility study

Objective: to implement and evaluate the feasibility of a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program for patients with long covid in the northeast region of Brazil. Methods: patients participated in a 12-week (2 sessions per week, 60 minutes per day) outpatient comprehensive PR programme. Socio-demographics and clinical variables were recorded during the baseline assessment. The feasibility was assessed through adherence analysis to the PR program. Exercise capacity, functional capacity, functional status, depressive symptoms severity and dyspnoea were assessed at baseline and after completion of study protocol. Results: the per-protocol study population consisted of 28 patients (64.2% female), mean age 55.3 ± 17.3 years, and the main complaint was limitation of efforts (67.8%). The feasibility of the PR program was 82.1% (n=23). Following PR, significantly improvements were found for the following parameters: exercise capacity (p&lt;0.001), functional capacity (p&lt;0.001), functional status (p=0.01), depressive symptoms severity (p=0.001) and dyspnea (p=0.01). Conclusion: PR is a feasible and effective intervention for improving physical and psychosocial outcomes of patients with long covid.&#x0D;

Developing a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic respiratory diseases in Malaysia: A mixed-method feasibility study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of remote healthcare and home-based interventions, including pulmonary rehabilitation, for patients with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). It has also heightened the vulnerability of individuals with underlying respiratory conditions to severe illness from COVID-19, necessitating exploration and assessment of the feasibility of delivering home - pulmonary rehabilitation (home-PR) programmes for CRD management in Malaysia and other countries. Home-based programmes offer a safer alternative to in-person rehabilitation during outbreaks like COVID-19 and can serve as a valuable resource for patients who may be hesitant to visit healthcare facilities during such times. We aimed to assess the feasibility of delivering a home-PR programme for patients with CRDs in Malaysia. We recruited patients with CRDs from two hospitals in Klang Valley, Malaysia to a home-PR programme. Following centre-based assessment, patients performed the exercises at home (five sessions/week for eight weeks (total 40 sessions)). We monitored the patients via weekly telephone calls and asked about adherence to the programme. We measured functional exercise capacity (6-Minutes Walking Test (6MWT) and Health-Related Quality-of-Life (HRQoL) (COPD Assessment Test (CAT)) at baseline and post-PR at nine weeks. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 purposively sampled participants to explore views and feedback on the home-PR programme. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically. We included 30 participants; two withdrew due to hospitalisation. Although 28 (93%) adhered to the full programme, only 11 (37%) attended the post-PR assessment because COVID-19 movement restrictions in Malaysia at that time prevented attendance at the centre. Four themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: involvement of family and caregivers, barriers to home-PR programme, interactions with peers and health care professionals, and programme enhancement. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the home-PR programme proved feasible for remote delivery, although centre-based post-PR assessments were not possible. Family involvement played an important role in the home-PR programme. The delivery of this programme can be further improved to maximise the benefit for patients.

Factors associated with poor long-term adherence after completing a pulmonary rehabilitation programme in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Although pulmonary rehabilitation programmes (PRPs) benefit patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), poor adherence to these programmes is common. This study aimed to analyse the factors associated with poor long-term adherence after completing a PRP. We conducted a retrospective study of 70 patients with COPD who performed an 8-week outpatient PRP that included 24 sessions of aerobic training, skeletal muscle resistance exercises, physiotherapy and COPD education. The study classified the patients into 2 groups: (1) long-term adherence and (2) long-term non-adherence to the PRP. We considered long-term non-adherence when the patient did not attend the 32 weeks follow-up visit after beginning the PRP. We measured the degree of dyspnoea, quality of life, physical activity, anxiety-depression status, submaximal exercise capacity and COPD exacerbations in both groups. The patients' median age was 69.6 [63.8-75.0] years, and 71.4% were men. The median forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 60.0 [47.7-68.0] % of that predicted. We observed total COPD exacerbations and severe COPD exacerbations in the last year in 32 (45.7%) and 22 (31.4%) patients, respectively. Dyspnoea, physical activity and quality of life significantly improved after completing the PRP. Long-term non-adherence to the PRP was observed in 32 (45.7%) patients. In the single regression model, severe COPD exacerbations (p = 0.04) and dyspnoea (p = 0.03) were associated with long-term non-adherence to the PRP. In the multiple regression model, only severe COPD exacerbations remained as an associated factor (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.1-8,1; p = 0.04). Approximately half of patients who complete PRPs present long-term non-adherence to the programme. Severe COPD exacerbations are associated with long-term non-adherence.

Evaluating Virtual and Inpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs for Patients with COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasingly frequent disorder that is likely to become the third leading cause of morbidity worldwide. It significantly degrades the quality of life of patients affected and poses a significant financial burden to the healthcare systems providing treatment and rehabilitation. Consequently, our study's purpose was to compare conventional inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) with virtual (online) PR using a mobile phone application. During a three-month period, two groups of patients followed the research protocol by participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation program administered and supervised by a physical therapist five times per week. A number of respiratory variables were examined before and after the test. At the end of the study period, a total of 72 patients completed the rehabilitation in the inpatient group, respectively 58 in the online group. It was observed that post-test comparison between patients undergoing the traditional and online rehabilitation methods did not show any significant differences. However, the calculated mean differences between pre-test and post-test results were significantly higher in favor of the virtual method. The most significant variations were encountered in maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) (6.6% vs. 8.5%, p-value &lt; 0.001), 6-min walking test (6MWT) (6.7% vs. 9.4%, p-value &lt; 0.001), and COPD assessment test (CAT) values (4.8 vs. 6.2, p-value &lt; 0.001), respectively. However, the maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) variation was significantly higher in patients undergoing the traditional rehabilitation method, from an average of 4.1% to 3.2% (p-value &lt; 0.001). In this preliminary study, the online pulmonary rehabilitation program proved non-inferiority to the traditional method, with significantly better results in several measurements. Additional studies using larger cohorts of patients and longer exposure to the online rehabilitation program are required to validate these findings.

Challenges in pulmonary rehabilitation: COVID-19 and beyond.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a comprehensive multidisciplinary intervention requiring a team involving an expert chest physician, an exercise training specialist, a nutritional expert, a psychologist, a social worker, and an occupational therapist, who together aim at improving respiratory functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in a large number of trials, systematic reviews, and meta‑analyses in pre-COVID-19 conditions, and the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation during the COVID‑19 pandemic was estimated based on results of abundant available studies. As many as 34 studies were selected to assess the global results of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients before the pandemic, and 40 studies were selected from the literature concerning pulmonary rehabilitation during the COVID‑19 pandemic.A large number of systematic reviews and meta‑analyses reported on the efficacy of rehabilitation in COPD patients, based on the improvement in inspiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity, dyspnea, and quality of life. The response to rehabilitation in patients with COVID‑19 is also satisfactory. The effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients shows an evolving need for health care professionals to design an individually tailored pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients with COVID-19 to alleviate the chronic symptoms and reduce complications.

Feasibility of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme for patients with symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Georgia: a single-site, randomised controlled trial from the Breathe Well Group

ObjectivesTo assess the feasibility of delivering a culturally tailored pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme and conducting a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT).DesignA two-arm, randomised feasibility trial with a mixed-methods process evaluation.SettingSecondary...

A feasibility trial of pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD in a low resource setting: Jaffna, Sri Lanka

BackgroundPulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Accordingly, the aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of devising a pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients with COPD in a low resource setting (Jaffna, Sri Lanka) and to observe its effects.MethodsNon-randomized controlled feasibility trial of ambulatory patients with COPD attending the pulmonary outpatient clinic of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Age-matched patients were allocated alternatively to an intervention group or to a control group. Twice weekly, for six weeks, patients in the intervention group attended pulmonary rehabilitation sessions consisting of supervised stretching, aerobic and strengthening exercises, and patient-education. Before and at the conclusion of the study, all patients performed incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT), 6-min walk test (6MWT) and completed the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale, COPD assessment test (CAT), chronic COPD questionnaire (CCQ), and hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS).Results204 patients with COPD (94% males) were identified at screening; 136 (66.7%) were eligible for pulmonary rehabilitation and 96 patients (47%) consented to participate. Of these, 54 patients (53 males) eventually participated in the study (42 patients were discouraged to participate by family members or friends); 40 patients (20 in the rehabilitation group and 20 patients in the control group) completed the study. Baseline characteristics of the intervention group and the control group were similar. 95% of patients in the intervention group adhered to regular home training exercises (self-reported diary). At post assessment, only the intervention group experienced clinically-meaningful improvements in symptoms and exercise capacity.ConclusionA simple and clinically beneficial pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients with COPD can be effectively implemented in a low resource setting. However, there is a need for educating patients and the local community on the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation to enhance uptake.Retrospective Trial Registration date and number: 16/04/2021, ISRCTN10069208.

Effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Including Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease after Stratification by the Degree of Static Hyperinflation

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) improves inspiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity and health status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is no additional effect on top of comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). It is unclear whether patients with different baseline degrees of static hyperinflation respond differentially to IMT as part of a PR program. Therefore, the aim was to study the effects of IMT as an add-on on PR after stratification for baseline degrees of static hyperinflation. In this single center retrospective study data were extracted between June 2013 and October 2020 of COPD patients who participated in a comprehensive PR program including IMT. IMT was performed twice daily, one session consisted of 3 series of 10 breaths and training intensity was set initially at a load of approximately 50% of patients' maximal static inspiratory mouth pressure (MIP). The primary outcome measure was MIP. Secondary outcomes were the distance achieved on the 6-min walk test (6MWD), endurance cycling exercise capacity at 75% of the peak work rate (CWRT) and disease-specific health status using the COPD assessment test. 754 patients with COPD were screened for eligibility and 328 were excluded because of repeated PR programs, missing data or baseline residual volume (RV) > 350%. In total, 426 COPD patients were categorized into RV categories 50-130% (n = 84), 131-165% (n = 86), 166-197% (n = 86), 198-234% (n = 85) and 235-349% (n = 85). In the whole sample, MIP, endurance exercise capacity and health status improved significantly. The change in 6MWD was higher in the lowest baseline degree of static hyperinflation [+ 39 (9-92) m] compared with the baseline highest degree of static hyperinflation [+ 11 (- 18-54) m] (p < 0.05). IMT as part of a PR program in patients with COPD with different baseline degrees improved MIP irrespective of the degree of static lung hyperinflation. Improvement in functional exercise capacity was significantly higher in the group with the lowest degree of static hyperinflation compared with the patients with the highest degree of static hyperinflation.

The Effect of a Short-Term Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients Hospitalised with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Recent research shows that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programmes in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), reduced dyspnoea, improved exercise capacity, and prevented occurrence of further exacerbations. To evaluate the utility of a 3-week PR programme in patients with AECOPD. Patients admitted with AECOPD, following clinical stabilisation in the respiratroy intensive care unit (RICU), were alternately assigned to intervention (n=15); and control groups (n=15), respectively. Baseline assessment included spirometry, six-minute walk test (6MWT), symptom limited cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment by generic questionnaire medical outcomes study short form (S-F 36) questionnaire and dyspnoea evaluation by Borg score. The intervention group patients were treated with usual care plus PR exercises in the form of 20 minutes each of walking, bicycle ergometry and resistance exercises, thrice-weekly for three weeks. The control group patients were treated with only the usual care. After discharge from hospital the treatment regimens were continued on alternate days on outpatient basis, for a total of three weeks. The assessment was repeated in both the groups after three weeks. Nine sessions of PR exercises produced statistically significant improvement in general well-being, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), 6MWT parameters, exercise capacity, peak oxygen uptake and volume of oxygen consumption (VO2)/Watts slope on CPET in patients with AECOPD. Short duration PR programmes appear to be helpful in the management of AECOPD.

Effectiveness of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programs for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): systematic review

BackgroundAlthough pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is considered a key component in managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, uptake remains suboptimal. This systematic review aimed to determine the effectiveness of home-based PR (HBPR) programs for COPD patients.MethodsA systematic review of scholarly literature published within the last 10 years from the conception of this project was conducted using internationally recognized guidelines. Search strategies were applied to electronic databases and clinical trial registries through March 2020 and updated in November 2021 to identify studies comparing HBPR with ‘usual care’ or outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (OPR). To critically appraise randomized studies, the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool (ROB) was used. The quality of non-randomized studies was evaluated using the ACROBAT-NRSI tool. The quality of evidence relating to key outcomes was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), exacerbation frequencies, COPD-related hospital admissions, and program adherence. Three independent reviewers assessed methodologic quality and reviewed the studies.ResultsTwelve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 2 comparative observational studies were included. While considerable evidence relating to the effectiveness of HBPR programs for COPD patients exist, overall quality is low. There were no differences between HBPR and OPR in terms of safety, HRQoL, functional exercise capacity and health care resource utilization. Compared to usual care, functional exercise capacity seemed to significantly improve after HBPR. While patient compliance with HBPR is good, two factors appeared to increase the ‘risk’ of non-compliance: expectations of patients to 1) complete daily diaries/activity logs and 2) engage in solely unsupervised exercise sessions.ConclusionThe overall quality for most outcomes was low to very low; however, HBPR seems to offer comparable short-term benefits to OPR.

A pulmonary rehabilitation shared decision-making intervention for patients living with COPD: PReSent: protocol for a feasibility study.

BackgroundDespite the variety of pulmonary rehabilitation programmes for patients living with COPD, uptake remains low. To improve this, it is recommended that health professionals engage patients in informed decisions about pulmonary rehabilitation. Shared decision-making (SDM) facilitates informed and value-based decision-making between patients and health professionals. This protocol describes the development and evaluation of a complex SDM intervention for patients living with COPD, who are referred for pulmonary rehabilitation, and their pulmonary rehabilitation health professional.Methods and analysisWe are developing a complex SDM intervention involving a patient decision aid (PtDA) and a decision coaching workshop. Prior to patient recruitment, pulmonary rehabilitation health professionals will attend the workshop. Upon referral to pulmonary rehabilitation, patients will receive the PtDA to support their decision-making prior to and during their pulmonary rehabilitation assessment with a health professional. The intervention will be evaluated in a one-arm exploratory study to investigate its feasibility and acceptability for patients and health professionals, with an integrated fidelity assessment. The primary outcome is recruitment feasibility, data collection feasibility and intervention fidelity. Secondary outcomes include routine pulmonary rehabilitation data, decisional conflict, patient activation, intervention attendance/attrition and patient and pulmonary rehabilitation health professional experience of the intervention. Quantitative outcomes will be evaluated using the most appropriate statistical test, dependent on the sample distribution. Qualitative outcomes will be evaluated using reflexive thematic analysis. Fidelity will be assessed using the Observer OPTION 5 scale.ConclusionThis intervention will provide structure for an informed and values-based decision-making consultation between a patient with COPD and a pulmonary rehabilitation health professional with the potential for optimising pulmonary rehabilitation decision-making.

Six-Week Hospital-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Covid Pneumonia ICU Survivors: Experience from a Tertiary Care Center in Central India.

OBJECTIVEThere is very limited data on the usefulness of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with coronavirus pneumonia who have survived intensive care unit care. The primary aim was to explore the feasibility of conducting a pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with coronavirus disease-19 pneumonia surviving intensive care. The secondary aim was to study the impact of a hospital-based 6-week pulmonary rehabilitation program on exercise capacity, quality of life, and psychological parameters in these patients. This study was conducted at the Center for Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Department of Pulmonary Medicine of the institute.MATERIAL AND METHODSA total of 27 patients were enrolled. Among them, 14 patients who completed the desired 12 sessions over 6 weeks constituted the pulmonary rehabilitation group and 13 patients who either did not consent or defaulted within the first 2 weeks were considered as controls. Both groups had assessments at 0 and 6 weeks that included a 6-Minute Walk Test, Incremental Shuttle Walk Test, mMRC Dyspnea Scale, Baseline Dyspnea Index, and Transitional Dyspnea Index, Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire score, and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 score.RESULTSSignificant improvement in dyspnea by mMRC (P = .01) and exercise capacity as measured by 6-Minute Walk Test (P <.001) and Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (P = .025) was seen in the pulmonary rehabilitation group as compared to the control group. There was no significant improvement in quality of life and psychological parameters (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale 21 score) after 6 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation program as measured in our study.CONCLUSIONPulmonary rehabilitation is feasible and appears promising in coronavirus disease acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors. However, data from other centers and a larger number of patients are required to imbibe conclusive results.

The effectiveness of short-term pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with comorbid asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obesity.

The effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has not yet been established in patients with asthma – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap (ACO) depending on their nutritional status. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term PR program in patients with comorbid asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and obesity. We included 40 ACO patients and divided them into 3 groups according to body mass index (BMI) and then subdivided them into PR (n=21) and control (n=19) groups. The COPD Assessment Test (CAT), the Asthma Control Test (ACT), and the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRS) were used to evaluate symptoms levels. BODE index (body mass index, forced expiratory volume in one second, dyspnoea, and 6-min walk distance) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation. In addition, spirometry and bioimpedansometry were performed. All measurements were done before and after a 6-month PR program. A significantly lower decline in the BODE index was observed in overweight patients (decreased by 43.6% compared to baseline and lower by 40.7% compared to the control group). The six-minute walking test (6MWT) significantly increased in all groups (p<0.001). There was a decrease in total CAT score by 25.4% and by 31.2% in the overweight group (p<0.001). The BMI decreased more in the obese group (by 9.4% compared to baseline). Our study result showed that early use of PR program significantly improves functional capacity and BODE index, leads to dyspnea and CAT scores reduction and improvement in pulmonary function, cause a decrease in BMI, body fat percentage, and visceral fat level, and an increase in muscle mass in overweight and obese patients with ACO.

Role of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Aims and objectives- To determine the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with COPD regarding Clinical symptoms Status of exercise tolerance Status of physical and social performance Quality of life Method- 50 patients with stable COPD, who were willing to participate, were included in study. All patients were taught chest physiotherapy, bronchial hygiene, education about disease and its management and proper nutrition. All patients were assessed regarding any psychological problems. Daily 30-35 minute sessions were conducted at institute for initial 4 weeks and then home care was taught. Patient was assessed periodically for symptoms, quality of life and spirometric findings. All variables were recorded at baseline and after completion. Statistical analysis were performed using student’s‘t’ test and p values observed. Result- Dyspnea scale measured by Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) (3.0 ± 0.66) improved after program (1.89 ± 0.83, p value less than 0.0001) which is statistically very significant. Health related quality of life measured by using St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire 49.74 ± 5.17 improved significantly 40.92 ± 4.87 after program (p value less than 0.0001) 6 minute walk distance (280.9 ± 18.04) improved significantly after program (303 ± 17.34) (‘p’ value less than 0.0001) Spirometric parameters like FVC (p value 0.02), FEV1 (p value 0.17) and FEV1 / FVC ratio (p value 0.76) do not show any statistically significant changes after program.

ABCDEF pulmonary rehabilitation program can improve the mid-term lung function of lung cancer patients after thoracoscopic surgery: A randomized controlled study

Background Pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for most patients with lung diseases. However, some previous studies have shown that pulmonary rehabilitation has no obvious effect on short-term lung function in patients with lung cancer.Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the ABCDEF pulmonary rehabilitation program on lung cancer patients who have undergone surgery.Design This was a randomized controlled trial with repeated measures.Settings The study was conducted in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of a 4000-bed comprising training and research hospital from 2019 to 2020.Participants A total of 90 patients who underwent thoracoscopic pneumonectomy were divided into two groups of 45, using a completely randomized model.Methods Patients in the experimental group participated in an ABCDEF program (Acapella positive vibration pressure training, breathing exercise, cycling training, dance in the square, education, and follow-up) after surgery. In contrast, the regular care provided to the control group focused on breathing and expectoration guidance. The study outcomes were the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, 6 min walking distance, Borg score, incidence of postoperative complications, length of indwelling chest tube, and length of postoperative stay. Generalized estimating equation models were used to compare the changes in the outcomes between the groups over time.Results The ABCDEF pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients who underwent thoracoscopic pneumonectomy was found to be more effective in increasing lung function at 3 months after discharge (p<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference on the day of discharge (p>0.05). Exercise tolerance was different at both time points (p<0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group (p<0.05). The length of postoperative stay in the experimental group was also shorter (p<0.05), however, the length of the indwelling chest tube was not significantly different between the intervention and control groups (p>0.05).Conclusions This study showed that the ABCDEF pulmonary rehabilitation program could effectively improve mid-term lung function and exercise tolerance in patients after thoracoscopic pneumonectomy, and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications along with the length of postoperative hospital stay.

Predictors of premature discontinuation and prevalence of dropouts from a pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

IntroductionTo date, very little is known about the risk factors that contribute to premature discontinuation (dropout) from pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We examined prevalence and predictors of premature discontinuation in patients who participated in an eight week PR program. MethodsWe analyzed a prospectively maintained data-base of patients with COPD who attended a PR program from 2013 to 2019. We included patients 40 years or older with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio less than 0.7. Subjects were assigned completers or non-completers based on whether they completed the 8-week PR program. Quality of life was measured using the St-George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), anxiety using the Anxiety Inventory for Respiratory disease (AIR), dyspnea using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale, and exercise capacity using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT). ResultsNine hundred nighty three COPD patients (mean age = 70.82 years, FEV1 = 59.21% predicted, 51% male) entered the PR program. Of these, 259 (26%) discontinued PR prematurely and 139 (53%) were male. Compared with completers, non-completers had elevated symptoms of dyspnea and anxiety, had reduced exercise tolerance, were younger, and had poorer quality of life at entry (all p < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, the following variables were independently associated with discontinuation from PR: younger age (p < 0.001), elevated symptoms of anxiety (p < 0.001), elevated symptoms of dyspnea (p < 0.01) and reduced exercise tolerance (p < 0.002). ConclusionOver a quarter of COPD patients discontinued the PR program prematurely. Discontinuation of PR was associated with younger age, elevated symptoms of dyspnea and anxiety, and reduced exercise capacity, but not with severity of airflow obstruction.

만성 폐쇄성 폐질환에 대한 도수치료의 효과 : 체계적 문헌고찰

Background/Objectives: Manual therapy (MT) has been proposed in pulmonary rehabilitation programmes for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but an updated systematic review of the evidence is lacking. We aimed to systematically review the effectiveness of MT interventions, alone or added to exercise, on lung function, exercise capacity and quality of life in COPD patients. Methods/Statistical analysis: We searched PubMed, PEDro, CochraneLibrary, using the terms: COPD manual therapy, COPD AND manual therapy. Only randomised controlled trials (RCT) were considered. Findings: Out of 168 articles screened, 6 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Sample sizes varied from under 20 to over 200 participants ranging in age from 50 to over 60 years. ALL of the six studies reported improvements in lung function and exercise performance following MT intervention. Improvements/Applications: This review provides a methodologic evaluation of the evidence for using MT in the management of COPD. While the quality of the evidence provided by six experimental study was high, they were most of small sample sizes. These results highlight the need for further research into the use of MT in conjunction with exercise on people with COPD.