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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
A new pulmonary rehabilitation maintenance strategy through home-visiting and phone contact in COPD
Yi Li1,2, Jing Feng3,4, Yuechuan Li2
1Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University.
Background:
The benefit of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for patients with COPD diminishes over time. We investigated a new strategy involving home-visit and phone contact and compared this to usual care in maintenance of PR benefits.
Methods:
A total of 172 stable COPD patients receiving 8-week PR program were recruited for this prospective study. Patients were allocated into usual care group (UC) and PR maintenance group (PRMG) randomly. Patients in PRMG participated in maintenance strategy at home under supervision through home-visit and phone contact. The 6-minute walking test (6MWT), COPD assessment test (CAT), and modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC) scores were evaluated every 3 months.
Results:
Of the total, 151 patients completed 8-week PR program with satisfactory PR results (p<0.001), and 104 patients finished the follow-up. The clinical improvements in 6MWT, CAT, and mMRC scores were maintained (p<0.001) in PRMG. In comparison, the benefit of PR diminished gradually in UC. The differences in 6MWT, CAT, and mMRC scores between groups were observed 6, 9, and 6 months after PR, respectively (p<0.05). Total frequency of exacerbations in PRMG was lower than UC (p=0.021).
Conclusion:
Maintenance strategy involving home-visit and phone contact is superior to usual care to preserve PR benefits, and reduces the acute COPD exacerbation rate.
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