Effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Patients with Chronic Pulmonary Diseases with Different Types of Ventilatory Defects: Relationships between Pulmonary Function Parameters and Exercise Torelance

This prospective cohort study was conducted to determine which pulmonary function parameters are useful in the prediction of exercise torelance and exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH) among patients with chronic pulmonary diseases with different types of ventilatory defects. Fifty one patients with chronic pulmonary diseases who underwent comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation for periods of 4 to 8 weeks, and who were classified as to different types of ventilatory defects ; obstructive, restrictive and mixed type based on their pulmonary functions. All patients were measured for pulmonary function parameters, 6-minute walking distance (6MD) and the activity of daily living (ADL) before and after pulmonary rehabilitation. After pulmonary rehabilitation, the patients demonstrated a significant (p<0.001) increase in 6 MD and ADL scores for all types of ventilatory defects. In the relationship between 6 MD and pulmonary function parameters , the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec. (FEV1.0) was significantly correlated with 6 MD for all types of ventilatory defect. Vital capacity (VC) and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) correlated with 6MD in the obstructive and the mixed ventilatory defects, and PaO2 correlated with 6 MD relative to mixed ventilatory defects. In the relationship between EIH and pulmonary function parameters, VC significantly correlated with EIH relative to restrictive ventilatory defects. FEV1.0 and MVV correlated with EIH relative to obstructive ventilatory defects. Our present data suggest that specific pulmonary function parameters which can be correlated with 6 MD and EIH for different types of ventilatory defects, may be useful in terms of devising pulmonary rehabilitation protocols for these patients.