IS INPATIENT REHABILITATION BENEFICIAL FO R PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE (COPD) - RESULTS OF A PROSPECTIVE ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Success of inpatient therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pul monary disease (COPD) has been assessed in a prospective study of 54 p atients (mean age=63,8y). During hospital stay (mean duration= 27,6d) FEV1% of predicted improved from 42,5% on admission to 51,9% on discha rge (p<0.001). Quality of Life (QoL) (p<0.05) and Health Satisfaction (p<0.001) improved significantly. The 22 drop-outs revealed a signific antly more depressive coping strategy but did not differ from the rema ining 32 patients regarding lung function, sociodemographic data and Q oL. One year after the hospital stay the remaining 32 patients showed a still improved FEV1% (46,4%, p<0.05) and Health Satisfaction (<0.05) but QoL scores relapsed to entry levels. Better pulmonary long-term e ffects were achieved by patients with high QoL scores on entry; subjec ts that tended most to wishful thinking as a coping strategy had worse pulmonary outcome.