Long-term repercussions of a pulmonary rehabilitation program on the indices of anxiety, depression, quality of life and physical performance in patients with COPD

Objective: To assess the 24-month effects of a pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) on anxiety, depression. (quality Of life and physical performance of COPD patients. Methods: Thirty patients with COPD (mean age, 60 8 10 years, 70% males) participated in a 12-week PRP. Which included(I 24 physical exercise sessions, 24 respiratory rehabilitation sessions. 12 psychotherapy sessions and 3 educational sessions All patients were evaluated at baseline (pre-PRP). at the end of the treatment (post-PRP) and two years later (Current) by means of four instruments. the Beck Anxiety Inventory; the Beck Depression Inventory; Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire: and the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Results: The comparison between the pre-PRP and post-PRP values revealed a significant decrease in the levels of anxiety (pre-PRP: 10.7 +/- 6.3. post-PRP 5.5 +/- 4.4; p = 0.0005) and depression (pre-PRP 11.7 +/- 6 8: post-PRP: 6 0 +/- 5.8. p = 0 00 1), as well as significant improvements in the distance covered oil the 6MWT (pre-PRP 428 +/- 75 0 in, post-PRP. 474.9 +/- 86 3 in, p = 0.03) and the quality Of life Index (pre-PRP. 51 +/- 15.9, post-PRP 34 7 15.1. p = 0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences between the post-PRP and Current evaluation values. Conclusions: The benefits provided by file PRP ill terms of the indices or anxiety. depression and quality of life as well as the improved 6MWT performance, persisted throughout the 24-month study period