Journal Article

I presented an H&P on a 71 y/o F with a 50 pack year smoking history with new onset COPD. In coming up with a plan for the management of this patient, pulmonary rehabilitation appeared to play a significant role, in addition to pharmacologic agents, in the morbidity of patients with COPD. I researched the utilization of early supervised pulmonary rehab compared with usual care (after discharge) for patients following an acute exacerbation of their COPD. This was a meta-analysis and systematic review of 13 randomized controlled trials with a total of 866 patients measuring various primary and secondary outcomes. Results showed that there were no significant effects of the early pulmonary rehab group on measures of FEV1% predicted, the Borg Dyspnea Score and SF-36 Mental compared with usual care. However, the group that received early pulmonary rehab did achieve better 6MWD, SGRQ-total and SF-36 Physical compared with usual care which was associated with improved mobility, prevention of muscle atrophy, improved breathlessness, exercise tolerance and health-related quality of life.