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DOI: 10.1191/1479972305cd069oa Inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation: does it make sense?
Fondazione Villa Pineta and University of ModenaReggio Emilia, Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Pavullo (MO), Italy Among the nonpharmacological therapies, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is particularly appropriate for patients with chronic respiratory impairment who, despite any optimal drug management, are still symptomatic and experience restriction in every day activities. Pulmonary rehabilitation performed in inpatient, outpatient, or home settings demonstrates shortand longterm clinical efficacy. Although disease severity does not inherently dictate candidacy for exercise training, the degree of physiological and functional impairment may influence setting in which the training should occur. Therefore, inpatient rehabilitation is generally bestsuited for the most sick and most disabled patients. The overall results from the literature confirm that the inpatient setting for a PR program is a feasible option and does not necessarily result in higher direct costs when balanced against duration and effectiveness in terms of improved outcomes.
Key Words: COPD economics exercise
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