BACKGROUND This study investigated whether descriptors of breathlessness differed after participation in an 8 week pulmonary rehabilitation program and whether changes in sensory quality would be reflected in responsiveness to pulmonary rehabilitation. METHODS People with COPD provided descriptors for their sensation of breathlessness before and after an 8 week pulmonary rehabilitation progr...

INTRODUCTION Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, osteoporosis, and anxiety and/or depression. Although pulmonary rehabilitation programs are proven to be beneficial in patients with COPD, it is unclear whether comorbidities influence pulmonary rehabilitation outcomes. The aim of the present review was t...

The article provides an outline of clinical competencies recommended for personnel providing comprehensive services in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), complementing the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines for Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs. Individuals wishing to provide PR services should possess a common core of professional and clinical competenci...

BACKGROUND Outcomes validate program performance and patient benefits received from cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. However, outcomes have little meaning without test standardization and the ability to benchmark data with other programs. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the feasibility for measuring standardized outcomes in a large number of rehabilitation programs. METHODS...

QUESTION What prevents people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from attending and completing pulmonary rehabilitation programs? DESIGN Qualitative design using semi-structured interviews. PARTICIPANTS 19 adults with COPD who had declined to participate and 18 adults with COPD who had not completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program at a metropolitan teaching hospital. RES...

the six-minute walk test (6mwt) is a well-tolerated test which reflects daily activities and can be easily used in clinical practice. the 6mwt provides information about functional capacity, response to therapy and prognosis across a range of chronic cardiopulmonary conditions. moreover, the 6mwt is sensitive to the common therapies used for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as pulmon...

OBJECTIVE Weight loss is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Anorexia, postulated to be associated with alteration in taste sensitivity, may contribute to weight loss in these patients. Pulmonary rehabilitation is known to lead to improved exercise performance in patients with COPD. However, the relationship between pulmonary rehabilitation and taste sensitivit...

BACKGROUND Around the world, the timing of referral of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients for pulmonary rehabilitation differs from immediately after exacerbation (early) to later on when patients are in a stable state (late). There are no trials comparing the different time points of referral for pulmonary rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES Our aim was to compare the effects of ea...

BACKGROUND COPD is a highly incapacitating disease, particularly among older people, implying significant burden for family caregivers. Involving caregivers in comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation programs might benefit their functional coping to care demands; however, there is no objective evidence to sustain such assumption. This study is a secondary analysis aiming to analyze the effects o...

BACKGROUND Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is characterised by reduced functional capacity, dyspnoea and exercise-induced hypoxia. Pulmonary rehabilitation, an intervention that includes exercise training, is beneficial for people with other chronic lung conditions; however its effects in ILD have not been well characterised. OBJECTIVES • To determine whether pulmonary rehabilitation in patie...