The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with post-tuberculosis lung disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Although the benefit of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been demonstrated for patients with COPD, the benefit for patients with non-COPD lung disorders is still unclear. In the present study, we compared the effect of PR on patients with post-tuberculosis (TBC) lung disorders and patients with COPD.


METHODS
We performed a prospective nonrandomized open trial over a 9-week period.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with post-TBC lung disorders (thoracoplasty, 25 patients; mean [+/- SD] age, 71 +/- 5 years; FEV(1), 0.84 +/- 0.29 L) and 32 age-matched and FEV(1)-matched COPD patients were enrolled in the study. First, we compared the exercise tolerance between groups using a 6-min walking test. Next, we trained the patients using a 9-week outpatient PR program. We assessed improvement using clinical dyspnea ratings, a daily activity score, and the results of a 6-min walking test.


RESULTS
When age and FEV(1) were matched, the distance covered during the 6-min walking test did not differ between the groups. After rehabilitation, significant improvement was observed in both the post-TBC group and the COPD group in terms of Medical Research Council dyspnea grade, transition dyspnea index, activity score, and 6-min walking distance (42 m [p < 0.01] vs 47 m [p < 0.01], respectively). The magnitudes of the improvement in these parameters were comparable between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
PR is as beneficial in post-TBC lung disorder patients as in COPD patients if the severity of the disability is similar.
Ando
Morihide
M
Division of Respiratory Medicine and Clinical Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Fujita Health University, Aichi, Japan. m-ando@kch.hosp.go.jp
Mori
Atsushi
A
Esaki
Hiroshi
H
Shiraki
Tsuyoshi
T
Uemura
Hiroyuki
H
Okazawa
Mitsushi
M
Sakakibara
Hiroki
H
D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology; D013905:Thoracoplasty; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016138:Walking