Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Cureus. 2021 Oct 1;13(10):e18414. doi: 10.7759/cureus.18414. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an obstructive and progressive airway disorder that is linked with a significant loss in daily physical activity as well as psychological issues that contribute to the patient's impairment and poor health-related quality of life. Over the last two decades, however, the research and application of nonpharmacologic therapies such as lung rehabilitation have been expedited with increasing evidence of systemic events in COPD patient groups and their nugatory impact on their functioning pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). It is a key part of integrated treatment for COPD and other chronic breathing disorders and is helpful in supporting the recovery of patients following COPD hospitalization. In this paper, we summarize current evidence regarding the effectiveness of PR in the management of chronic COPD. A systematic review was carried out during June 2021, searching databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCO. The authors extracted qualitative data, and then the author's names, year, study type, methodology, and the result were reported. The search of the aforementioned databases returned a total of 127 studies that were included for title, abstract, and full-text screening, and nine studies were enrolled for final data extraction. PR alleviates tiredness and dyspnea, improves emotional function, and increases the ability to do daily activities. These benefits are relatively extensive and substantial clinically. Rehabilitation acts as an important component of COPD management and helps to improve the quality of life and training linked to health.

Keywords: copd; exercise; lung disease; obstructive; rehabilitation; training.

Publication types

  • Review