Korean J Med.  2014 Dec;87(6):690-697. 10.3904/kjm.2014.87.6.690.

The Clinical Efficacy of an Individualized Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in Patients with Coal-worker Pneumoconiosis

• Lee JM
• Park IK
• Kim JK
• Jeon GJ
• Kim JR
• Kim JH
• Cheong H
• Choi BY

• KMID: 2269364
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2014.87.6.690

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
It is unknown whether pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective intervention to manage coal-worker pneumoconiosis (CWP). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of an individualized PR program in 53 patients with CWP hospitalized in two medical institutions.
METHODS
The PR program consisted of upper and lower extremity exercises to improve exercise endurance and skeletal musculoskeletal strength. All subjects performed treadmill and ergometer exercise with steady loading weights three times/week for 12 weeks. The following tests were performed before and after the study to investigate the efficacy of the PR program: modified Borg scale, pulmonary function test, mid-thigh circumference, maximum muscular strength, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), Korean version.
RESULTS
Forty patients (75.5%) completed their PR programs. They improved significantly on the modified Borg scale, mid-thigh circumference, maximum muscular strength, 6MWD (all p < 0.000), and SGRQ (p = 0.007); however, no significant improvement was observed on the pulmonary function test. A significant improvement in dyspnea (p = 0.004) and 6MWD (p = 0.002) was observed in 12 patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 sec < 60%. The PR program with smoking cessation resulted in significantly more improvement on the 6MWD (p < 0.0001) and the SGRQ score (p = 0.002), as compared to those of patients who did not quit smoking.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that an individualized 12-week PR program improves exercise capacity and quality of life for patients with CWP.

Keyword

Pneumoconiosis; Exercise therapy

MeSH Terms

Dyspnea
Exercise
Exercise Therapy
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Lower Extremity
Pneumoconiosis*
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires
Rehabilitation*
Respiratory Function Tests
Smoke
Smoking
Smoking Cessation
Weights and Measures
Smoke