• Marie Carmen Valenza, Irene Torres-Sánchez, Gerald Valenza-Demet, Irene Cabrera-Martos, María José Flores-Barba, and Angela Ruíz-Sáez.
• Chest. 2014 Mar 1;145(3 Suppl):372A.

Session TitleCOPD Rehabilitation PostersSESSION TYPE: Poster PresentationsPRESENTED ON: Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:15 PM - 02:15 PMPURPOSE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) impacts negatively on the quality of life of patients. Several studies have shown that acute exacerbations (AEs) decrease health-related quality of life, pulmonary function and survival of COPD patients. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of a physical therapy program on quality of life in COPD patients hospitalized due to an acute exacerbation.MethodsRandomized controlled trial. Sixty hospitalized patients due to non-infectious exacerbation of COPD (7.15% women, mean age 71.1±10.094 years old; mean body mass index 27.66±5.315 Kg/m2, mean length of hospital stay 8.805±2.381 days) were included in the study. They were randomly allocated to a control or an intervention group. Control group received medical standard treatment and intervention group received physical therapy added to standard care. The physical therapy protocol included daily resistance lower limbs and controlled breathing exercises (relaxation exercises, pursed lips breathing and active expiration) during 45 minutes. Quality of life related to health was assessed at baseline and at discharge. Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) was used at baseline to assessed the quality of life during last year and the changes pre to postintervention were evaluated using the EuroQol-5D questionnaire.ResultsNo significant differences were found between intervention and control group at baseline (SGRQ values 63.95 ±13.52 vs 63.00±13.05, respectively). Quality of life related to health showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) pre to post hospitalization stay in all the subscales (mobility, self-care, usual activity, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression) in the intervention group. There were also improvements in the subscales in the control group, but not in a significant way. Regarding the overall health state measured with the EuroQol Visual analogue scale the intervention group also improved significantly (57.00±19.290 vs 74.45±14.002; p= 0.006*).ConclusionsPhysical therapy added to standard care improves self-reported quality of life in hospitalized COPD patients due to an acute exacerbation.Clinical ImplicationsPhysical therapy added to standard care in hospitalized COPD patients has shown beneficial effects.DisclosureThe following authors have nothing to disclose: Irene Torres-Sánchez, Marie Carmen Valenza, Gerald Valenza-Demet, Irene Cabrera-Martos, María José Flores-Barba, Angela Ruíz-SáezNo Product/Research Disclosure Information.

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