Pulmonary rehabilitation in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Abstract
Laura D. Ciobanu1,2, Dragica P. Pesut3,4, Govind N. Srivastava51University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr. T. Popa" Iasi
2Clinical Hospital of Rehabilitation, Iasi, Romania
3 School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Internal Medicine Department
4 Clinical Centre of Serbia, Institute of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis,
Research and Epidemiology Department, Belgrade, Serbia
5 Department of TB & Respiratory Medicine, Institute of Medical Science,
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Contact: Laura Ciobanu, lauraciobanu@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), neglected in terms of pulmonary rehabilitation some decades ago, have nowadays evidence-based recommendations to attend it. There are no serious limitations excepting the locomotor handicap (neurolo - gical and musculoskeletal disability), severe cardiovascular and cognitive impairment. Multiple outcomes are expected to show up, as improvement of cardiovascular fitness and exercise capacity, relieving symptoms as dyspnoea, depression and anxiety. Meeting people like them on pulmonary rehabilitation premises, with same limitations and life beliefs, benefiting of group support and staff encouragement, elderly patients with COPD will find out that a pulmonary rehabilitation course might be both pleasant and useful, despite of distance of journey and physical training.
Key words: pulmonary rehabilitation, COPD, elderly
Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Elderly Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease