Inpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in a Long-Term Care Facility: Short-Term Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pulmonology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that significantly impacts the quality of life for older adults.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation is a crucial intervention for managing COPD symptoms and improving functional capacity.
• Inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (IPR) offers a structured environment for intensive therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the short-term outcomes of inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (IPR) programs specifically for older patients diagnosed with COPD.
• To assess the impact of IPR on functional tolerance, exercise capacity, and perceived dyspnea in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A pretest-posttest design was employed with 21 participants (equal gender distribution) aged 46-95 with COPD.
• Interventions included medical management, exercise training, nutrition counseling, and coping skills education.
• Outcomes were measured using functional tolerance, exercise capacity tests, dyspnea scales, and the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).

Main Results:

• IPR led to statistically significant improvements in functional tolerance, exercise capacity, and perceived dyspnea.
• Participants younger than 65 did not show statistically significant improvements in health-related quality of life or SGRQ subscales.
• Older participants (over 65) demonstrated statistically significant improvements in their St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire scores.

Conclusions:

• Early inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (IPR) is an effective strategy for managing COPD symptoms in older adults.
• IPR positively impacts key functional outcomes and quality of life, particularly in elderly COPD patients recovering from exacerbations.