Factors affecting the success of pulmonary rehabilitation in asthma

The majority of patients with asthma limit their physical activity due to the fear of exercise dyspnea. Regular exercise, on the other hand, is currently suggested as one of the non-pharmaceutical treatment alternatives for patients with asthma since it improves their quality of life and symptom control. This study aimed to investigate the indicators of success in patients with asthma receiving pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).

A total of 131 patients with the diagnosis of asthma were included in the study. All patients attended an 8-week comprehensive, multidisciplinary, outpatient and individualized PR program.

The factors related to the gains in dyspnea perception, exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, respiratory muscle strength and quality of life were evaluated. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, the gain in dyspnea perception is related to baseline dyspnea. The gain in exercise capacity is related to baseline exercise capacity and the amount of smoking. The gain in peripheral muscle strength is related to gender. The gain in respiratory muscle strength is related to age, and finally the gain in quality of life is related to baseline dyspnea and anxiety levels.

Especially men, young people, heavy smokers, and those with low initial exercise capacity, high perception of dyspnea, and high anxiety are more likely to benefit from PR.