Chest
Volume 100, Issue 3, September 1991, Pages 613-617
Journal home page for Chest

Clinical Investigations
Psychological Outcomes of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.100.3.613Get rights and content

This study assessed physiologic, psychological, and cognitive functioning in outpatients with COPD. Sixty-four subjects, 53 to 82 years of age, participated in the 30-day exercise rehabilitation program. The program consisted of exercise, education and psychosocial counselling. Participants were assessed prior to beginning the program and at the end of 30 days. Assessments at both times included physiologic functioning (bicycle ergometry testing, pulmonary function tests, 12-min walk), psychological well-being (anxiety, depression, psychiatric symptoms, perceived well-being) and an abbreviated neuropsychological test battery. Results indicate significant improvement in physical endurance and pulmonary function, significant reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improvement in measures of general well-being and neuropsychological functioning. The study suggests that exercise rehabilitation of older adults with COPD contributes not only to improvements in physical functioning and endurance, but also to enhanced cognitive functioning and psychological well-being.

(Chest 1991; 100:613-17)

Section snippets

Subjects

The study included 64 older adults who volunteered to participate in an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program at Duke University Medical Center. Criteria for inclusion in the study were: (1) age =50 years, (2) symptoms for more than six months, and (3) the ***FEV1/FVC ratio <0.70. Participants ranged in age from 53 to 82 years (mean = 67.4 ± 7.0 years), and were approximately evenly distributed by gender (35 male [55 percent], 29 female [45 percent]).

Exercise Rehabilitation Program

Participants attended the program in

Adherence

Of the 64 subjects assessed at time 1, 61 subjects (95 percent) completed the 30-day program. Two females and one male dropped out, leaving 34 males and 27 females with complete data.

Pulmonary Function

Changes in pulmonary function were tested in a MANOVA of three variables: FVC, FEV1 and MVV. The MANOVA indicated a gender main effect (F[3,56] = 14.08, p<0.001) and time main effect (F[3,57] = 10.05, p<0.001), but no interaction effect. Univariate testing indicated that all three measures of pulmonary function

DISCUSSION

These data suggest the efficacy of exercise rehabilitation among both male and female older adults with COPD. Participants in the 30-day exercise rehabilitation program achieved significant improvement in pulmonary function, physical endurance and functional capacity. In addition, participants experienced enhanced psychological well-being, as indicated by reduced affective distress and improved cognitive functioning.

The greater functional and work capacity among males as opposed to females is

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to thank Pamela Allison-Goretzky, Michelle Feldman and LeeAnn Robinson for technical assistance and Janet Ivey for secretarial assistance.

References (0)

Cited by (113)

  • Effects of exercise training on cognition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review

    2018, Respiratory Medicine
    Citation Excerpt :

    In a crossover experimental trial, strenuous exercise acutely improved verbal fluency compared to video watching [16]. Although longer-term trials of exercise on cognition in COPD have been reported [17–23], the heterogeneity of exercise training as well as cognitive outcome used makes it difficult to draw clear conclusions. Therefore, the objectives of the present systematic review were to: i) describe the exercise training interventions designed to improve cognition in COPD, and ii) document their impact.

  • Long-term Exercise After Pulmonary Rehabilitation (LEAP): Design and rationale of a randomized controlled trial of Tai Chi

    2015, Contemporary Clinical Trials
    Citation Excerpt :

    Patients with COPD are at high risk of developing symptoms of anxiety and depression [6,7]. Anxiety over dyspnea-producing activities is common and may promote maladaptive sedentary lifestyles [74,75]. Inherent in mind–body exercises such as Tai Chi is training in mindfulness, stress-reduction and other relaxation techniques that may improve mood, perceived stress, and directly address anxiety and depression-related factors.

View all citing articles on Scopus

Manuscript received October 15; revision accepted December 13

View full text