COPD: Health Care Utilisation Patterns with Different Disease Management Interventions.

PURPOSE: The management of COPD is a significant and costly issue worldwide, with acute healthcare utilisation consisting of admissions and outpatient attendances being a major contributor to the cost. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and integrated disease management (IDM) are often offered. Whilst there is strong evidence of physical and quality of life outcomes following IDM and PR, few studies have looked into healthcare utilisation. The aims of this study were to confirm whether IDM and PR reduce acute healthcare utilisation and to identify factors which contribute to acute health care utilisation or increased mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with COPD who were referred to IDM over a 10-year period. Patients were also offered an 8-week PR program. Data collected were matched with the hospital dataset to obtain information on inpatient, ED and outpatient attendances. RESULTS: 517 patients were enrolled to IDM. 315 (61%) also commenced PR and 220 (43%) completed PR. Patients who were referred to PR were younger and had less comorbidities (p < 0.001). Both groups (IDM only and IDM + PR referred) had reductions in healthcare utilisation but the IDM-only group had greater reductions. A survival benefit (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50-0.92) was seen in those who were PR completers compared to patients who received IDM only. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COPD who successfully complete PR in addition to participating in IDM have improved survival. IDM alone was effective in the reduction of healthcare utilisation; however, the addition of PR did not reduce healthcare usage further.

Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy in a community-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme: A controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the use of cognitive behavioural therapy in pulmonary rehabilitation addresses the depression and anxiety burden and thereby improves rehabilitation outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective controlled clinical trial. PATIENTS: A total of 70 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were referred to a community centre for pulmonary rehabilitation. METHODS: Patients were allocated to either the control group, consisting of pulmonary rehabilitation alone, or to the treatment group, receiving pulmonary rehabilitation and an additional 6 sessions of group-based cognitive behavioural therapy. Assessments consisting of questionnaires and walk tests were conducted pre- and post-pulmonary rehabilitation. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were enrolled. The cognitive behavioural therapy group had significant improvements in exercise capacity following pulmonary rehabilitation (mean change 32.9 m, p = 0.043), which was maintained at 3 months post-pulmonary rehabilitation (mean change 23.4 m, p = 0.045). Patients in the cognitive behavioural therapy group showed significant short-term improvements in fatigue, stress and depression (mean change 2.4, p = 0.016, 3.9, p = 0.024 and 4.3, p = 0.047, respectively) and a 3-month post-pulmonary rehabilitation improvement in anxiety score (mean change 3.1, p = 0.01). No significant changes were seen in the control group. CONCLUSION: The addition of cognitive behavioural therapy improved patients' physical, psychological and quality of life results. Cognitive behavioural therapy should be considered for inclusion in a pulmonary rehabilitation programme to enhance outcomes.

Maintaining Gains Following Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an accepted intervention for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite initial improvements following PR, many patients eventually return to baseline function or decline even further. The aim of this study is to look at long-term (>1 year) outcomes following PR. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of patients who had completed PR. Participants were invited for an assessment consisting of participant interviews and clinical assessments using standardised instruments. RESULTS: 129 patients between 2003 and 2012 completed rehabilitation and were eligible. 88 patients were included in the analysis. The mean time of the long-term assessment was 22 months following PR. The mean age was 71 years. Mean FEV1 was 46%. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in the incremental shuttle walk test distance of 29.0 m following PR but this gain was lost at the long-term reassessment. Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ) scores showed a statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in all four domains but only the domains of dyspnoea and fatigue remained statistically significant (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively) at the long-term reassessment. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores reduced following rehabilitation but only the anxiety component was statistically significant (p < 0.01). These improvements persisted at the long-term reassessment but were not statically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that many of the functional gains achieved in PR are lost in the longer term. Regular surveillance or monitoring of these patients post-PR is important to identify those requiring further intervention.