Physiological and clinical effects of outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
2009
Abstract
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) usually have decreased tolerance to exercise capacity and suffer from exertional dyspnoea. The aim of our study was to show the physiological and clinical effects of outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on exercise tolerance and natural history of the disease.
The participation in PR was offered to 66 patients with moderate to severe COPD. In conclusion, outpatient PR improves exercise tolerance and prognosis in patients with COPD.