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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Time is of the essence -- at least for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to a new study, the sooner someone with COPD starts getting rehabilitation, the more theyll get from it.
Researchers at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle followed a small group of patients over a two year period. After an eight week course of pulmonary rehabilitation, patients were evaluated for exercise capacity, shortness of breath in daily activities, fatigue and quality of life. After controlling for complicating factors like age, lung function and illnesses, the patients who lived longer than two years showed more positive results from the program.
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The researchers expected patients in the later stages of COPD would be sicker as a result of lung or other diseases. But, said Bonnie Steele A.R.N.P., Ph.D., a respiratory clinical nurse, Previous work has taught us that even with severe obstructive lung disease based upon pulmonary function, people can derive significant benefit from [pulmonary rehabilitation].
Other possible explanations for the findings are overall poorer muscle control and function towards the end of life, greater de-conditioning and other illnesses like heart failure.
Even though the study was small, Dr. Steele said the findings suggest, Treatment for end-state patients with COPD may still be effective and introducing training sooner in the course of their disease results in more improvement.
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SOURCE: American Thoracic Societys 2008 International Conference in Toronto, May 18-21, 2008
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
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