[Favorable effects of rehabilitation in patients with CARA].
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of a rehabilitation programme in patients with asthma or COPD who have major complaints despite the fact that their pulmonary function is not severely disturbed.


METHODS
Medical Centre Dekkerswald, Groesbeek.


METHODS
Prospective clinical trial.


METHODS
The treated group consisted of 44 patients with an obstructive lung disease, FEV1 68.3% of predicted value. This group was compared with 43 patients in a control group. These were volunteers, who were comparable for pulmonary function, reversibility, age, sex, Quetelet index, pulmonary medication and educational level. These groups were examined for 2 years by means of tests and questionnaires. Changes from baseline values were analysed by covariance analysis. Patients followed a rehabilitation programme which consisted of an optimal medical treatment in combination with training of physical endurance, health education and psychological and social support. The duration of the programme was 3 months, 38 hours a week.


RESULTS
Pulmonary rehabilitation had a long-term beneficial effect on endurance, several psychological valuables, consumption of medical care, attitude towards way of life, skills, coordination and smoking habits. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, need of pulmonary drugs and complaints of cough and sputum production did not change after rehabilitation. Airway obstruction and subjective feelings of dyspnoea, allergy and hyperresponsiveness only decreased in the short term (less than I year).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that pulmonary rehabilitation improves many variables in the short as well as in the long run. When COPD patients do not improve on conventional treatment, pulmonary rehabilitation should be considered.
Cox
N J
NJ
Universitair Longcentrum Dekkerswald, Groesbeek.
Hendriks
J
J
Binkhorst
R A
RA
van Herwaarden
C L
CL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001980:Bronchi / Q000503:physiopathology; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013177:Sports
Gunstige effecten van revalidatie bij patiënten met CARA.