Social Determinants of Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Adherence to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is low. Previous studies have focused on clinical predictors of PR completion. We aimed to identify social determinants of adherence to PR.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Improves Outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Independent of Disease Burden.

Rationale: Current practice guidelines recommend pulmonary rehabilitation as an adjunct to standard pharmacologic therapy for individuals with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Whether pulmonary rehabilitation benefits all subjects with COPD independent of baseline disease burden is not known.

Objectives: To test whether pulmonary rehabilitation benefits patients with COPD independent of baseline exercise capacity, dyspnea, and lung function.

Determinants of successful completion of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD.

Background: Despite known benefits, a significant proportion of patients with COPD do not complete pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Little is known regarding which factors promote successful completion of PR.

Methods: We analyzed data from a prospectively maintained database of subjects with COPD who attended a PR program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, from 1996 to 2013.

Benefits of completing pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with asthma.

Background: Asthma affects 30 million Americans and results in reduced productivity and quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is known to improve physical conditioning and exercise performance in chronic lung diseases such as COPD, however, few studies have examined its benefits in patients with asthma. We aimed to determine the benefits of PR in this population as well as the predictors of completion of therapy.