Pulmonary rehabilitation is successful in mild Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is effective in improving healthrelated quality of life of patients with moderate-to-very-severe COPD. However, the effects of PR in patients with mild COPD have been scarcely explored. The overall findings show that PR improves exercise tolerance, dyspnea, muscle strength, physical activity and health-related quality of life in patients with mild COPD, and that most of these benefits last for at least 6 months. This study is a relevant step towards the integration of PR as part of the first-line management of patients with mild COPD