Effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60108/0v3pe104Keywords:
Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Quality of Life, Dyspnea, Home Care ServicesAbstract
Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and significantly impairs health-related quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation is considered a multidisciplinary intervention aimed at improving functional capacity and patient well-being.
Objective: To evaluate the available scientific evidence regarding the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation programs on health-related quality of life in adult patients with COPD.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was performed in PubMed between 2022 and 2025 using the search equation “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease” AND “Quality of Life”. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight studies were selected for narrative synthesis.
Results: Included studies showed significant improvements in health-related quality of life, reduced dyspnea, and increased functional capacity. Benefits were observed in both conventional and home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programs, including telehealth-supported interventions.
Conclusions: Pulmonary rehabilitation is an effective intervention to improve quality of life in patients with COPD and should be considered an essential component of comprehensive disease management.
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