PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Inga Heinzelmann
AU  - Isabelle Ningel
AU  - Rainer Gloeckl
AU  - Andreas Jerrentrup
AU  - Klaus Kenn
TI  - Influence of an acute exacerbation during pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on outcomes of PR in COPD patients awaiting lung transplantation
DP  - 2014 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P3045
VI  - 44
IP  - Suppl 58
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3045.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3045.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2014 Sep 01; 44
AB  - Background:Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) can be an effective intervention also in patients with very severe COPD awaiting lung transplantation (ltx). However, up to now the role and the influence of an acute exacerbation (AE) during PR on the outcome of PR are unknown.Methods:In this retrospective analysis n=462 COPD patients (age: 54±7y, FEV1: 26±9% pred.) awaiting lung transplantation were enrolled for an inpatient PR. 401 patients completed PR (34±13days) without AE and 61 patients acquired an AE while performing PR (40±16 days; p=0.002). Patients with an AE continued PR in an individually tailored fashion. 6-minute walking distance, lung function testing and health-related quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) were performed on admission and discharge.Results:Patients with and without AE showed a comparable 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) (236±108m versus 253±122m; p=n.s.) and lung function (FEV1: 26±9% pred. versus 26±10% pred.; p=n.s.) at baseline. At discharge patients with and without AE were able to increase their 6MWD by 65±62m and 56±62m, respectively (both p<0.001, between group difference p=n.s.). The mental health component summary of the SF-36 also improved significantly (p<0.001) in patients with AE (11±18 pts.) and without AE (10±13 pts.). These improvements were not significantly different between the two groups. At discharge FEV1 was similar in patients with AE (27±9% pred.) and without AE (26±10% pred.).Conclusion:It seems that patients with end-stage COPD significantly benefit from PR with regards to exercise capacity and HRQL even if they acquire an AE during PR. Thus AE seems not to be a reason to discontinue PR.