[Rehabilitation program with IPPB-home treatment in severe chronic obstructive lung disease: hospitalizations and...

31 patients with severe chronic obstructive lung disease (FEV1 less than 45% VC) were included in a rehabilitation program with IPPB home care. The frequency and duration of hospitalizations in the three years before and the three years following institution of the program were compared. During the rehabilitation period the incidence of hospitalizations fell from 87 to 46 (p less than 0.001), and the number of days spent in hospital decreased from 2896 to 1099 (p less than 0.001). The high cost of the rehabilitation program requires careful selection and competent instruction of candidates. If these basic requirements are observed, a surprising reduction in the total cost of treatment can be achieved by shortening the expensive hospital stay.