Introduction: Frail COPD patients are frequently not accepted for regular pulmonary rehabilitation programs due to low physical condition and functional limitations. Rehabilitation programs in nursing homes for geriatric patients with COPD have been developed. The effects of such programs are largely unknown.
Aims: To assess the course of COPD-related hospital admissions and exercise tolerance in a cohort of frail COPD patients participating in geriatric COPD rehabilitation.
Methods: Retrospective observational study with a follow up of 12 months after discharge from rehabilitation. COPD related hospital admission days were measured in the year before and after participating rehabilitation. Exercise tolerance was measured by the six minute walk test (6MWT) at admission and at discharge from rehabilitation.
Results: Fifty-eight participants accomplished the rehabilitation program. Twelve patients died in the first year after discharge. The median number of hospital admission days in the year before participating rehabilitation was 21 (IQR 10-33). The first year after discharge this was decreased to a median of 6 (IQR 0-12). The 6MWT increased from 194 (SD 85) meters at admission to 274 (SD 95) meters at discharge (mean difference 80 m, SD 72; p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Geriatric COPD rehabilitation in a nursing home setting seems to reduce hospital admissions in frail COPD patients and to increase exercise tolerance.
Keywords: 6MWT; COPD; Geriatric rehabilitation; hospital admissions; mortality.