Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Highly Effective but Often Overlooked

Abstract

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receive a range of treatments including but not limited to inhaled bronchodilators, inhaled and systemic corticosteroids, supplemental oxygen, and pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary intervention that seeks to combine patient education, exercise, and lifestyle changes into a comprehensive program. Programs 6 to 8 weeks in length have been shown to improve health, reduce dyspnea, increase exercise capacity, improve psychological well-being, and reduce healthcare utilization and hospitalization. Although the use of pulmonary rehabilitation is widely supported by the literature, controversy still exists regarding what should be included in the programs. The goal of this review was to summarize the evidence for pulmonary rehabilitation and identify the areas that hold promise in improving its utilization and effectiveness.

Effectiveness of precise and quantitative rapid pulmonary rehabilitation nursing program for elderly patients with lung cancer during the perioperative period: A randomized controlled trial

“…However, this finding has been reported in other studies conducted among patients with COPD and other restrictive disorders. 15,16 The role of nurses in the perioperative management of patients with lung cancer is often overlooked, but should be made an integral part of the postoperative management of patients with lung cancer, especially under the current expansion of integral nursing care in hospitals. Nurses may play an important role empowering patients and improving the postoperative management through a wide variety of care measures that include giving advice, educating patients and providing direct care.…”

“…However, this finding has been reported in other studies conducted among patients with COPD and other restrictive disorders. 15 , 16 …”

Efficacy and safety of pulmonary rehabilitation training on lung function, quality of life, and T cell immune function in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial

“…In the control group, T cell function was also improved due to lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation. The BMI was not included in the observation index due to the relatively short observation period of the patients involved in the study (35)(36)(37).…”

Implications of Managing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Cardiovascular Diseases

“…Lack of activity leads to poor prognosis, and poor quality of life in these patients [ 85 ]. Exercise training, as a part of pulmonary rehabilitation program, improves physical activity and reduces anxiety in patients [ 86 ]. In a small study, pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to reduce the heart rate and aortic wave velocity in COPD patients [ 87 ].…”