Influence of comorbidities on the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

PR is equally effective in elderly and younger patients with COPD, with efficacy influenced by body mass index and anxiety. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 934-941.

Factors associated with the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…reported that the level of daily PAL is impaired by the presence of comorbidities, irrespective of the types of comorbidity . We previously showed that these comorbidities influence the efficacy of PR, as measured by 6MWD and SGRQ . However, in the present study, the changes in PAL were not associated with individual comorbidities or comorbidity indexes.…”

“…A recent review reported that up to 40% of patients with COPD have symptoms of depression or anxiety, and the prevalence can be higher among patients with advanced disease and those using supplemental oxygen . The depression score was not improved by PR in the present study nor in our previous cohort study with a larger number of patients . Most of the previous studies showed that PR improved depression and anxiety scores, although some studies showed the depression score did not change after PR .…”

“…SGRQ scores were not significantly improved by PR. The number of participants might not be adequate to detect the effect, because SGRQ scores were improved by PR in our previous report with a larger number of patients . Further research is required with a large number of participants and a multicenter study to confirm the results of the present study.…”

“…8 The depression score was not improved by PR in the present study nor in our previous cohort study with a larger number of patients. 26 Most of the previous studies showed that PR improved depression and anxiety scores, 27,28 although some studies showed the depression score did not change after PR. 29 This discrepancy might be explained by the differences in the PR programs.…”

“…COPD is commonly associated with one or more medical comorbidities . These comorbidities, in part, reflect several of the systemic manifestations of the disease, and have a significant impact on an individual's symptoms and medical outcomes.…”