Efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation plus chest physiotherapy versus chest physiotherapy alone in patients with bronchiectasis

Context Bronchiectasis is a chronic airway disease characterized by cough, dyspnoea, expectoration, and poor quality of life. Besides medical treatment, regular chest physiotherapy and Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) may be an effective approach for bronchiectasis. Aims To compare the effects of PR and chest physiotherapy with chest physiotherapy alone in bronchiectasis. Settings and design This randomized controlled trial observational research enrolled 40 cases with bronchiectasis who were categorized into two groups: (group I); 20 cases received PR and chest physiotherapy in addition to medical treatment, (group II): 20 cases received chest physiotherapy in addition to medical treatment. Methods and material Cases were assessed with modified borg scale, 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), arterial blood gases, Spirometry and underwent PR program. Statistical analysis used The same group's quantitative data were compared using the paired Student's t-test. The frequency and percentage (%) of qualitative characteristics were displayed. Results In (group I), there was a statistically notable improvement in modified Borg Scale, 6-MWT, arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), arterial oxygen saturation, FEV1 (actual and predicted %values), FVC (actual and predicted %values), FEV1/FVC actual value, sputum volume and training intensity. In (group II) there was a statistically notable improvement in 6-MWT, PaO2, PaCO2, FEV1 (actual and predicted %values), FVC (actual and predicted %values), FEV1/FVC actual value, and sputum volume. The percentage of improvement in all parameters was significantly higher among group (I). Conclusions PR in addition to chest physiotherapy is superior to chest physiotherapy alone in the improvement of symptoms and exercise tolerance in bronchiectasis.