Creating home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programs for patients with asthma: insights from practice

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) plays a crucial role in the management of asthma symptoms and addresses the physical, psychological, and social consequences of asthma. However, difficulties in accessing hospital-based PR programs could result in underutilization of these services. Alternative models such as home-based PR and tele-rehabilitation are promising in their potential to mitigate barriers and improve adherence. It is well known that PR has a significant positive impact on both respiratory and physical functions, as well as individual well-being. Indeed, such effects have been confirmed in several studies in which psychological symptoms (i.e., anxiety and depression), physical capacity, and health-related quality of life improved in patients with asthma. Nonetheless, to sustain treatment-related benefits in the long term, PR programs must be tailored to individual needs and planned using a multidisciplinary and holistic approach. Given the high prevalence of asthma in children, home-based PR programs may offer substantial benefits to the pediatric population and warrant further investigation. The present review describes the characteristics of home-based PR and provides evidence on current practices for the management of asthma and the development of a patient-centered therapeutic approach.