Benefits of an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program: a prospective analysis

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effect of an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program on functional outcome, supplemental oxygen use, quality of life (QOL), and rehospitalization.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: Inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation unit.

Patients: One hundred fifty-seven patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) admitted to an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program over a 3-year period.

Intervention: Comprehensive interdisciplinary inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program with an average length of stay of 21 days.

Main outcome measures: Improvements in QOL questionnaire scores, COPD knowledge questionnaire scores, 6-minute walking test (with 3 ambulation categories: bed-bound, household ambulators, community ambulators), and supplemental oxygen use. Rehospitalization 1 year after completion of the program was also assessed and compared with hospital days for the year before the program.

Results: On discharge from the program, 88% of individuals walked farther (p <.0001), and community ambulators doubled their walking distance, whereas bed-bound patients decreased 10-fold; supplemental oxygen use dropped 33% during the day (p <.0001) and 57% during the night (p <.0001); 82% showed improved QOL (p <.0001); 67% showed improved knowledge of COPD (p <.0001); and 67% of the sample spent less time in the hospital during the 12 months after program completion compared with the 12 months before admission (p <.001).

Conclusions: An inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program leads to improved endurance and functional ambulation, decreased supplemental oxygen use, and fewer hospitalizations 1 year after discharge for patients with COPD.