Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Bottom of an iceberg

WOS: 000437792300011
PubMed ID: 31453507
Objectives: This study aims to compare the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with mild-to-moderate and severe-to-very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients and methods: Between January 2005 and December 2010, a total of 76 patients with mild-to-moderate (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [ GOLD] Stages I+II, n=33, mean age 66.0 +/- 8.6 years) and severe-to-very severe (GOLD Stages III+IV, n=43, mean age 63.5 +/- 8.8 years) COPD completed an eight-week outpatient PR program. Incremental and endurance shuttle walk tests (ISWT, ESWT), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were assessed before and after PR. Changes after the intervention were compared between two groups. Results: There were significant improvements in the ISWT and median 60 m [(-150)-(400)] in mild-to-moderate group and 70 m [(0)-(270)] in severe-to-very severe group (both, p