Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Scientific Abstract

Improvement in balance and exercise functioning in COPD patients undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation treatment.

Armando Miciano, MD - Spring Mountain Rehab, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89128

Chad L. Cross, PhD - University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89154

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, having claimed the lives of nearly 122,000 in 2004.  The extent of the disorder and the cost of treatment are staggering, with an estimated 9 million Americans affected and over $37 billion per year expended in healthcare costs.  The intent of our research was to analyze the effect of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment (i.e., occupational therapy [OT], respiratory therapy [RT], and physical therapy [PT]) on four outcome measures:

1) Change in six-minute walk distance

2) Change in METS

3) Change in balance using the BERG balance score

4) Change in overall exercise time

A retrospective chart review of 30 patients was conducted.  Patients averaged 72.4 yrs (SD = 7.08) and completed an average of 21 OT and PT sessions and 22 RT sessions; the average length of treatment was 77.5 days (SD = 43.57).  Patients in the program showed a change in six-minute distance of 39.3 m (SD = 14.6; p = 0.001), a change in METS of 0.42 (SD = 0.62; p < 0.001), a change in BERG balance score of 4.6 (SD = 7.02; p > 0.05), and a change in overall exercise time of 36.1 min (SD = 16.3; p < 0.001).  The overall increase in functioning in these patients suggests that comprehensive rehabilitation treatment can improve overall health outcomes in COPD patients.  This research will be used to derive additional hypotheses to be tested at our clinic, and will assist us in developing more comprehensive outcome measures for these patients (e.g., the inclusion of a measure of overall change in quality of life).

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Last modified: 08/04/07