Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on exercise capacity in patients with COPD: a number needed to treat study.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recognized as an evidence-based treatment in improving dyspnea and quality of life in patients with COPD. We evaluated the number needed to treat (NNT) to achieve an increase in physical capacity, as defined by a significant improvement in the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with COPD undergoing PR.

Methods: The study enrolled 284 patients aged 41 to 86 years (mean age 69.