COPD Patients Deserve Early Pulmonary Rehab

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects up to 32 million people in the USA, and carries a somewhat poor prognosis, especially in those patients who continue smoking. As the disease progresses, there is increased difficulty in breathing, which severely impact the quality-of-life of the individual. A new study reported at the American Thoracic Society 2008 Conference has demonstrated how early use of pulmonary rehabilitation can delay the usual deterioration in the patient’s condition.

Over 100 male COPD patients with an average age of 67 were enrolled. Using lung tests and quality-of-life measures, they were grouped into ‘end-stage’ patients (ES, the most severely affected) and ‘non-end-stage’ (NonES) patients. There were 14 ES and 92 NonES patients. All of them were than entered into an 8-week outpatient pulmonary rehab course.

At the end of 8 weeks’ rehab, exercise capacity, confidence in walking, and physical functioning had all improved significantly more in the ES than in the NonES patients. There was actually a slight decline in confidence in walking in the ES patients. Clearly, starting a pulmonary rehab program soon after diagnosis is a good thing – unfortunately it’s often left until a number of other treatments have been tried.

Another report at the meeting described a different approach – a low intensity case-management program, consisting of regular home visits and frequent clinic visits. This relatively inexpensive program was shown to sharply reduce hospital admissions and emergency room visits. So, whatever approach is used, COPD sufferers shouldn’t just sit at home without actively fighting their disease.