Risk factors as outcome predictors of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a primary lung disease. Today, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is the basis for non-pharmacological treatment of these patients, with numerous confirmed effects on the most significant symptoms of the disease and the quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between certain risk factors and the outcome of PR, as well as to determine the percentage of respondents who had a positive outcome of PR.

Methods The study included 500 patients with COPD, determined according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines, all stages (I–IV), in the stable phase of the disease, who completed the outpatient PR program. Disease stage, comorbidities, forced expiratory volume in the first second, six-minute walk test (6MWT), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea and exercise capacity (BODE) index, were measured before and after the program. The last four parameters have been observed as risk factors that affect the outcome of PR, but also as parameters by which we monitor the outcome of PR.

Results A successful outcome of PR was achieved by as many as 452 (90.4%) patients. The following were determined as independent predictors of a positive outcome of PR: lower number of comorbidities, absence of heart failure, higher BMI, and CAT ≥ 10.

Conclusions PR in our group of patients leads to statistically significant improvements in most of the examined subjective and objective parameters, in patients in all stages of the disease.

Keywords: COPD; comorbidity; respiratory rehabilitation; risk factors; treatment outcome