The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on physical performance and health related quality of life in patients with chronic lung disease

• Published in: Respiratory medicine 2021-09, Vol.186, p.106533-106533, Article 106533
• Main Authors: Vinan-Vega, Myrian, Mantilla, Barbara, Yang, Shengping, Nugent, Kenneth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 6-Min walk test distance; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chronic Disease; Chronic lung disease; Chronic obstructive lung disease; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases - physiopathology; Lung Diseases - psychology; Lung Diseases - rehabilitation; Male; Middle Aged; Minimal clinically important difference; Physical Functional Performance; Psychosocial Functioning; Pulmonary rehabilitation; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Walk Test
• ISSN: 0954-6111; 1532-3064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106533

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a multidisciplinary approach that improves exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic lung disease. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients with chronic lung disease who participated in the PR program at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, between 2014 and 2019. Clinical information, 6-min walk test (6 MW T) results, the number of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations, and psychosocial questionnaires (CAT score, PHQ9 and mMRC dyspnea score) were recorded before and after the completion of the program. Multiple variable linear regression and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationships between patient characteristics and changes in the 6-min walk distance and the achievement of a minimal clinically important differences (MCID) in the 6-min walk distance, the CAT score, the PHQ-9, and the mMRC. 279 patients enrolled in pulmonary rehabilitation; 144 patients (52%) completed the program. After completion of the program, 84 patients increased their 6 MW T distance to exceed the MCID with a mean increase of 178 feet, and the number of ED visits and hospitalizations decreased from 0.80 ± 1.11 to 0.55 ± 0.87 (p