Responders COPD patients to two different home-based rehabilitation programs: a blind, randomized, and controlled clinical trial

Purpose: To verify the number of patients with COPD responders to two different home-based rehabilitation programs.

Methods: This was a blinded, randomized, and controlled clinical trial. The six-minute step test (6MST), one-minute sit-stand test (1-MSTST), six-minute walk test (6MWT), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), monitoring of physical activity in daily life, and isometric quadriceps muscle strength were assessed pre- and post-intervention. A total of 50 patients were randomized into two groups: hybrid rehabilitation (HR), consisting of supervised physical exercise once a week associated with exercises at home, and home-based rehabilitation (HBR), which consisted of a single meeting for guidance related to the physical exercises prescribed.

Results: Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the following parameters post-intervention and between groups: 6MST (HR = 67.1 ± 25.7 to 93.5 ± 37.2; HBR = 69.6 ± 19.5 to 82.3 ± 25.2 steps), 6MWT (HR = 367.7 ± 84 to 433.2 ± 88.8; HBR = 396.2 ± 97.2 to 418.3 ± 83.8 m), CAT (HR = 19.5 ± 6.8 to 13.0 ± 7.8; HBR = 17.0 ± 7.6 to 15.0 ± 10 points), and mMRC (HR = 2[2-3] to 1[1-2]; HBR = 2[2-3] to 2[1-3] points). However, the response rate was 80% in the HR and 50% in the HBR.

Conclusion: Both pulmonary rehabilitation programs improved physical capacity, alleviated dyspnea, and reduced the impact of the disease on health status; however, the number of responders was higher in the HR.