Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study to compare effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on exercise capacity, dyspnea sensation, lung functions, blood gases analysis, quality of life and psyhological symptoms in patients with moderate and severe diffusion defect.
Methods: Patients with COPD undervent an comprehensive 8-week out-patient pulmonary rehabilitation program participated in this study. Patients grouped according to diffusion capasity as moderate or severe. Outcome measures were exercise capacity, dyspnea sensation, pulmonary function tests, blood gases analysis, quality of life and psychological symptoms.
Results: A total of 68 patients enrolled the study. 32 of them had moderate diffusion defect [DLCO; 52(47-61)] and 36 of them had severe diffusion defect [DLCO; 29(22-34)]. At the end of the program, oxygenation, dyspnea sensation, exercise capacity and quality of life parameters improved significantly in both groups(p<0.05). Also the improvement in DLCO and FEV 1 reached a statistically significant in patients with severe diffusion defect (p < 0.05). When comparing changes between groups; dyspnea reduced significantly in patients with severe diffusion defect (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Pulmonary rehabilitation improves oxygenation, severity of dyspnea, exercise capasity and quality of life independent of carbon monoxide diffusion capacity in patents with COPD. Improvement in DLCO in patients with severe diffusion defect suggests that pulmonary rehabilitation reduced mortality.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015