Impact of pulmonary rehabilitation on lung functions and quality of life in chronic respiratory disease patients

Patients with chronic pulmonary disease commonly present with dyspnea, cough, fatigue, physical limitations, and low Quality-of-Life (QoL). With these morbidities and physical limitations, it may be difficult to perform their day-to-day activities. The London Chest Activity Daily Living (LCADL) scale assesses the self-reported dyspnea of patients with chronic respiratory disease during Activities of Daily Living (ADL). The study was designed to assess the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation on the dyspnea grade (mMRC scale), the Quality-of-Life parameters viz LCADL scale, 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and lung functions (FEV1 & FVC).The study is a retrospective observational study conducted over a period of 1 year, at the Department of Pulmonology, Bhakti Vedanta Hospital & Research Institute. Patients with different pulmonary conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), Post-covid Lung Dysfunction, etc. were enrolled in the study. A total of 80 patients were referred to Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR). Out of which, 40 patients completed an 8-week program. The distribution of the study population was as follows: 18 patients with COPD, 13 patients with ILD, 9 patients with other pulmonary diseases. 15 patients required oxygen support where oxygen saturation (SpO2) was < 90% at baseline at room air. The outcome measures were assessed in these patients at the time of enrollment (Week 0) and at the end of the program (Week 8).Overall, the statistically significant difference noted in Quality-of-Life parameters like LCADL score, mMRC, 6MWT, and lung functions (FEV1, FVC) with an 8-week Pulmonary Rehabilitation program.The p-value (< 0.001) was found in London Chest Activity Daily Living (LCADL) score. Domestic, physical activity had better scores with respect to all parameters after completion of the 8-week Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) program. The dyspnea grade on the mMRC scale improved from 1.9 ± 0.591 to 0.45 ± 0.50. The p-value was statistically significant (p < 0.001). 6 MWT distance was improved from 169.5 meters to 324.5 meters at the completion of 8-weeks, the mean difference was 155 meters which was found to be statistically significant. The p-value (< 0.001) was found in 6MWT distance. In lung functions, FEV1 improved from 52.30 % to 56.73 % of predicted and FVC improved from 56.20 % to 58.20 % of predicted. The mean difference of FEV1 and FVC was 4.43 to 2.0, respectively. : An 8-week supervised pulmonary rehabilitation program has demonstrated that the inclusion of pulmonary rehabilitation, not only reduces the symptoms but also improves the exercise capacity and add significant positive effect on the quality of life as well as lung functions in patients with chronic respiratory disease.