Towards health benefits in chronic respiratory diseases: pulmonary rehabilitation.

In 1895, Dr Charles Denison, a Professor of Diseases of the Chest and of Climatology at the University of Denver, was the first to state that daily walks, hygiene and dietary are important to acquire mental relaxation, happiness and prosperity in ‘‘pulmonary invalids’’ [1]. Notwithstanding, it took another 74 years before PETTY et al. [2] described a ‘‘comprehensive care programme’’ for individuals with ‘‘chronic airway obstruction’’ in a landmark peer-reviewed article [2]. This is still regarded as the first article on the short-term and long-term efficacy of rehabilitation for patients suffering from a chronic pulmonary disease. The first international statement on pulmonary rehabilitation with a strong recommendation for its use in the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was first published in 1992, and has been offered to physicians, and other healthcare professionals, by the scientific community [3]. That recommendation is still supported by the latest American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) Statement of Pulmonary Rehabilitation [4], as well as by the Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD) strategy document for the diagnosis and management COPD [5].