Abstrakt

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation is a well-recognized treatment option in chronic obstructive lung diseases improving exercise performance, respiratory symptoms and quality of life. In occupational respiratory diseases very little information is available. Objectives: This study aims at the evaluation of usefulness and sustainability of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with occupational respiratory diseases, partly involving complex alterations of lung function. Methods: We studied 263 patients (asthma, silicosis, asbestosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) using a 4-week inpatient rehabilitation program and follow-up examinations 3 and 12 months later. The outcomes evaluated were lung function, 6-min walking distance (6MWD), maximum exercise capacity (W_max), skeletal muscle strength, respiratory symptoms, exacerbations and associated medical consultations, quality of life (SF-36, SGRQ), anxiety/depression (HADS) and Medical Research Council and Baseline and Transition Dyspnea Index scores. Results: Compared to baseline, there were significant (p < 0.05) improvements in 6MWD, W_max and muscle strength immediately after rehabilitation, and these were maintained over 12 months (p < 0.05). Effects were less pronounced in asbestosis. Overall, a significant reduction in the rate of exacerbations by 35%, antibiotic therapy by 27% and use of health care services by 17% occurred within 12 months after rehabilitation. No changes were seen in the questionnaire outcomes. Conclusions: Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective even in the complex settings of occupational respiratory diseases, providing sustained improvement of functional capacity and reducing health care utilization.

Autoreninformation

Autoren

• U. Ochmann¹
• N. Kotschy-Lang²
• W. Raab³
• D. Nowak¹

Abteilungen

• ¹ Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial und Umweltmedizin, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München,
• ² Berufsgenossenschaftliche Klinik für Berufskrankheiten, Rehabilitationsklinik, Falkenstein,
• ³ Klinik für Berufskrankheiten der Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft, Rehabilitationsklinik, Bad Reichenhall

Adresse

Dr. med. Uta Ochmann
Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
Ziemssenstraße 1
D-80336 München
Email: [email protected]

Citation