Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: effects of a high versus low intensity programme

Abstract

Background/Aims Pulmonary rehabilitation is known to facilitate improvements in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms, exercise tolerance and quality of life. Despite this, there is no consensus on the ideal programme intensity. This article aims to explore and compare the benefits of a high intensity and low intensity pulmonary rehabilitation programme. Methods A total of 30 patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were randomly and blindly allocated to either a high intensity or low intensity 12-week pulmonary rehabilitation programme. Results Significant improvements in functional and health-related quality of life measures were obtained in both groups. Most of the significant changes for the high intensity group were achieved by week 8. The low intensity group required a further 4 weeks of rehabilitation in order to reach a significant difference. Conclusions Results show that both low and high intensity pulmonary rehabilitation programmes were beneficial. However, the high intensity programme was more efficient in achieving these improvements than the low intensity group.