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Updated: May 22, 2026

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Current best practice in pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Francesco de Blasio1, Mario Polverino
1Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Clinic Center Private Hospital, Naples, Italy, Viale Maria Bakunin n. 171 CAP 80126 Napoli. francesco.deblasio@cliniccenter.it
Abstract:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic condition that negatively affects several patient-centered outcomes. Among these, exercise capacity, dyspnea, and quality of life are the most relevant. In this article, factors contributing to exercise limitation, increase in exercise-induced dyspnea, quality of life deterioration, and other pathophysiological aspects in patients with COPD are analyzed in detail. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive intervention for patients with chronic respiratory diseases who are symptomatic and often have decreased daily life activities. PR has been clearly shown to induce favorable and long-lasting effects on all patient-centered outcomes. In addition, PR appears to have positive (even if not conclusively demonstrated) effects on other important outcomes in patients with COPD: number and severity of exacerbations, healthcare resource utilization, and survival. The organization of PR treatment, its components, outcome assessment, and future directions are discussed in light of the most robust scientific evidence.
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