Effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Lung Functions in Patients with COPD

Abstract

Background: The importance of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) as a therapeutic measure for COPD patients is well known.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of PR program by pursed lip breathing (PLB) and diaphragmatic breathing (DB) on FVC, FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC ratio in male patients with moderate stable COPD.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, BSMMU, Dhaka from July 2010 to June 2011 on 116 male stable moderate COPD patients aged 50 to 65 years. They were enrolled from the out patient department of the Department of Medicine of BSMMU and NIDCH Dhaka. They were grouped as control (56 patients without PR) and experimental (60 patients with PR). The experimental patients were advised to perform PR program for 30 minutes duration per session at home twice daily, for consecutive 60 days along with the standard drug treatment of COPD. On the contrary, the control patients were advised to continue their standard drug treatment alone for consecutive 60 days. For the assessment of spirometric lung function status, FVC, FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC ratio of all subjects were recorded on day 0 and day 60 for both the group by a portable digital MicroDL Spirometer and the statistical analysis was done by independent sample t test and paired Students t test.

Results: FVC and FEV₁ value were significantly increased in comparison to the control patients after 60 days of follow up. On the other hand, post exercise value of FEV₁/FVC ratio was decreased but it was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The study reveals improvement of lung functions with this sort of combination of PR program in stable COPD patients.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbsp.v8i2.18657

Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2013, December; 8(2): 70-76