Low rates of participation and completion of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary health care

Rev Med Chil. 2018 Nov;146(11):1304-1308. doi: 10.4067/S0034-98872018001101304.

Abstract

Background: Only 6% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) participate in pulmonary rehabilitation programs (PR) and only 50% of those who participate, complete these programs.

Aim: To determine rates of PR program participation and completion among patients with COPD in Chile.

Material and methods: Analysis of a database available at the Ministry of Health, which included data of 277491 patients with COPD (55% females) and their participation in PR programs, between 2014 and 2016.

Results: Forty percent of patients were over 75 years of age. Participation rates in PR programs ranged from 2.4 to 2.9%. Rates of completion ranged from 26 to 36%.

Conclusions: There is a low rate of participation in PR programs among patients with COPD. Approximately one third of participants complete these programs.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Chile
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Primary Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / rehabilitation*
  • Respiratory Therapy / statistics & numerical data*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sex Distribution
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Time Factors