D. Fuchs-climent et al., Quality of life and exercise tolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - Effects of a short and intensive inpatient rehabilitation program, AM J PHYS M, 78(4), 1999, pp. 330-335
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Ortopedics, Rehabilitation & Sport Medicine
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
The quality of life and the exercise endurance of patients with chronic obs
tructive pulmonary disease are impaired. The aim of our study was to determ
ine the impact of a 3-wk intensive inpatient rehabilitation program on the
quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and
to examine the correlation between quality-of-life measures and physiologic
measures throughout rehabilitation. Thirty-two patients with chronic obstr
uctive pulmonary disease (20 men, 12 women) were evaluated by spirometry an
d maximal exercise testing for exercise endurance and by the French version
of the Nottingham Health profile for quality of life. Rehabilitation compo
nents were individualized exercise at ventilatory threshold (4 hr/day), hea
lth education, and physical therapy and relaxation for 3 wk. Our results sh
owed an improvement in the quality of life (especially in physical mobility
, energy, and social isolation) and exercise endurance (increase of 14% of
maximal power and symptom-limited oxygen uptake). In contrast, no significa
nt correlations were found between the quality of life and physiologic para
meters (gas exchange cardiovascular and lung function parameters) throughou
t rehabilitation. Changes in the quality of life seem to be independent of
the physiologic results during the course of a shout and intensive inpatien
t rehabilitation program. Quality of life should, therefore, be more system
atically evaluated to determine the psychosocial benefits, which, although
subjective, are important for encouraging patients' compliance with rehabil
itation programs.