Three-year follow-up after a two-year comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program

The main objective of this study is to investigate the long-term effects, 3 years after the end of a 2-year pulmonary rehabilitation program with three weekly 1-h exercise sessions and 32 h of education in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The method consists of open prospective observational study with 30 patients. Outcome measures were quality of life (QoL) (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, SGRQ), physical exercise performance (6-min walking test, 6MWT), self-management abilities, lung function, hospitalization, and self-reported exercise. FEV(1) at baseline was 40.1% of predicted. The participants had statistical and clinical significant decrease in SGRQ (improved QoL) and increase in 6MWT during the program. They maintained the level of health they achieved during the program in the next 3 years, with a stable SGRQ score (-0.5 points, 95% CI -3.8 to 2.6 P=1.000) and 6MWT (+10 m 95% CI 28 to -4, P=0.273). Eighty percent of the participants had exercised at least 30 min three times a week from the end of the program to year 5. In conclusion, the participants had maintained their achieved level of health, improved their lung function slightly, and continued to exercise regularly 3 years after the end of the program.