Hospitalization for Exacerbations of Chronic Respiratory Disease: Not the Time to Start Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation improves dyspnea and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in some patients with other chronic respiratory diseases (Chest 2007; 131:5 suppl:1S), but whether it prevents readmissions after hospitalization for acute exacerbations is unclear. In this randomized trial, investigators in the U.K. determined whether rehabilitation begun immediately after hospital admission lowered risk for hospital readmission in nearly 400 patients (age range, 45–93; 82% with COPD) hospitalized for acute exacerbations of chronic respiratory disease. Participants received 6 weeks of either usual care (e.g., physiotherapist-delivered advice) or early rehabilitation (usual care plus…