Impact of pulmonary rehabilitation programs in improving health status in COPD patients

Pulmonary rehabilitation programme (PRP) have a positive impact on multiple outcomes of COPD, such as decreasing symptoms, increasing exercise tolerance and improving general health status. The aim of this study is to evaluate exercise tolerance impairment and to assess the impact of PRP in improving health status in patients diagnosed with COPD. It was conducted a prospective parallel group study in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department of the Clinical Hospital "V. Babes”, Timisoara, from 2007 to 2010. The subjects included in the study were patients diagnosed with COPD stages I-IV GOLD, initially evaluated and started a PRP, then re-evaluated after 3 weeks and 6 months. The study group included 168 patients, 158 men, mean age 61.73 years. The initial evaluation revealed higher values of dyspnea scores using mMRC scale in advanced COPD stages (3.69±0.77 in patients with COPD stage IV, vs 0.88±0.5 in patients with COPD stage, p<0.05), decreased Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), PImax and PEmax, and 6 minutes walking distance values corresponding with COPD severity stages. Re-evaluation at 3 weeks and 6 months after the pulmonary rehabilitation programme was applied showed significant improved dyspnea scores and exercise tolerance. The results of this study reconfirmed the positive and persistent impact of pulmonary rehabilitation programme on muscle dysfunction, dyspnea, and quality of life in COPD patients, regardless of severity. Key words: COPD, pulmonary rehabilitation programme, 6 minutes walking test, pedometry,