The Severity Of Acute Exacerbations Of Copd And The Effectiveness Of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Abstract Background and Aim Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective also in patients recovering from acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). We aimed to evaluate whether levels of dyspnoea affect the outcome of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients recovering from AECOPD requiring different levels of care. Materials and Methods Retrospective data analysis of 1057 patients recovering from AECOPD requiring either hospital (Hospital group: 291) or home management (Home group: 766), undergone post AECOPD in-patient pulmonary rehabilitation. The six-minute walking distance test (6MWD) was the primary outcome, stratified by the Barthel index Dyspnoea (Bid). Data of modified Medical Research Council scale, Short Physical Performance Battery, COPD Assessment Test were also analysed, when available. Results In overall population 6MWD improved significantly from 278 (129) to 335 (139) meters (p Conclusions In-patient pulmonary rehabilitation results in clinically meaningful improvement in patients recovering from AECOPD, independent of severity of dyspnoea. However, the levels of dyspnoea severity and the care required by AECOPD influenced the magnitude of success.