Short-course Out-patient Pulmonary Rehabilitation and COPD Exacerbations

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease with significant morbidity and incurs heavy utilization of healthcare resources. The direct cost of hospital admissions related to COPD is the single largest source of expenditure in the public hospital system. This study assessed whether a short course pulmonary rehabilitation programme with periodic reinforcement exercise training and phone call reminders would help to increase physical activity in COPD patients and also decrease readmissions for AECOPD.

Hypothesis: The above programme can reduce readmissions for AECOPD

Design: Randomised control trial. Patients will be randomised to the intervention or usual care group

Subjects: Patients discharged from hospital after an episode of acute exacerbation of COPD

Study instruments: Activity monitor, quality of life questionnaire

Interventions: The Intervention group will receive a short course pulmonary rehabilitation training as out-patient in the physiotherapy department for 4-8 sessions, 2 hours each time, 1-2 times weekly. The training is scheduled in the way that each subject would have at least 4-8 weeks supervised training by trained physiotherapist. Home exercise will be taught and the case manager will give phone calls to the subject every 2 weeks to provide support and reinforcement for having continuous exercise at home for one year. Patients will be invited to attend reinforcement out-patient physiotherapy training once very month or every 2 months if they are willing to attend.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with COPD exacerbations

Exclusion criteria

• History of asthma, lung resection or other significant pulmonary disease like pulmonary fibrosis.
• Active infection like pulmonary tuberculosis
• Unable to complete assessment due to physical and/or cognitive impairment
• Completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program in the previous 24 months.
• Having short life expectancy like subjects with terminal malignancy or intractable heart failure