Vervolgonderzoek naar het effect van longrevalidatie bij mannen met CARA

- Eighty-five male patients with COPD were divided into a rehabilitation group (44) and a control group (41). The rehabilitation group received rehabilitatory treatment in hospital for 6 weeks, following which they were advised to continue the exercises at home. In continuation of an assessment of the results after 2 years, both groups were reassessed 8 years later. Thirthy-eight patients of the rehabilitation group were still alive as against 26 of the control group; the fact that smokers were far numerous in the control group probably had played a part. The numbers of hospital admissions and out-patient check-ups was smaller in the rehabilitation group than in the control group; the number of courses of antibiotic treatment was the same in the two groups. The evolution of vital capacity and of the expiratory capacity per second was more favourable in the rehabilitation group. These findings confirm those of the earlier study, that rehabilitation treatment has a favourable effect in COPD patients. Cessation of smoking and the patient's motivation for this treatment are important factors.