Abstract
Referring patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to a pulmonary rehabilitation program can have significant benefits on important patient outcomes.
Key Points
- Pulmonary rehabilitation is an effective nonpharmacological therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Pulmonary rehabilitation improves symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue, exercise capacity and quality of life, and reduces hospital admissions.
- Spirometry is essential to confirm the diagnosis of COPD. Spirometry should be performed on all patients presenting with symptoms of breathlessness and suspected COPD.
- All people with COPD should be offered pulmonary rehabilitation.
