Outcomes of Pulmonary Rehabilitation for COPD in Older Patients: A Comparative Study

Figures & data

Table 1. Baseline characteristics (mean value) of the two groups of COPD patients.

	Mean pre-programme parameters (SD) by age group
Total n = 324	<70 year (n = 202)		>= 70 years (n = 122)
		n		n	Mann-Whitney U test
Age	61.5 (6.9)	202	75.5 (3.9)	122	p = NS (non-significant)
BMI	28.5 (6.6)	190	27.8 (6.2)	117	p = NS
Post bronchodilator FEV^1 (l/s)	1.37 (0.59)	196	1.24 (0.49)	117	p = NS
Post-bronchodilator ratio of FEV^1 to FVC — %	43.4 (9.4)	196	44.7(8.8)	117	p = NS
ISWT (m)	232.3 (132)	200	151 (108)	122	p < 0.001
ESWT (s)	341 (321)	194	219 (225)	119	p < 0.001
SGRQ Total	51.8 (16.6)	157	52.2 (15.5)	82	p = NS
HADS – A	8 (4.3)	198	6.3 (3.8)	122	p < 0.001
HADS – D	5.9 (3.6)	198	5.3 (3.2)	122	p = NS
Right Grip (kg)	25.5 (10.6)	195	22.4 (9.8)	118	p < 0.05
Left Grip (kg)	23.8 (10.1)	199	20.4 (8.9)	119	p < 0.01
mMRC	1.47 (1.06)	123	1.39 (0.96)	71	p = NS
CAT	21.8 (7.6)	133	19.8 (7.7)	82	p = NS

Table 2. Shows the mean change in raw measures post PR programme by age group.

	Mean change in raw parameters (SD) by age group
	<70 years (n = 202)	n	>70 years (n = 122)	n	Mann-Whitney U test
FEV^1 (l/s)	−0.003 (0.2)	123	0.003 (0.24)	82	p = NS (non-significant)
ISWT (m)	39.7 (71.7)	127	32.8 (62.4)	89	p = NS
ESWT (s)	78.4 (353)	123	68.4 (206.5)	87	p = NS
SGRQ Total	−2.5 (10.1)	97	−2.8 (10.5)	61	p = NS
HADS – A	−0.8 (2.6)	126	−0.5 (3.4)	89	p = NS
HADS – D	−0.6 (2.3)	126	−0.3 (2.4)	88	p = NS
Right Grip (kg)	1.6 (4)	129	1.2 (4.2)	86	p = NS
Left Grip (kg)	1.4 (4.2)	128	1.1 (3.6)	87	p = NS
mMRC	−0.2 (1.1)	77	−0.02 (1.4)	52	p = NS
CAT	−1.8 (6.0)	83	−1.7 (6.6)	58	p = NS

Mann-Whitney U test showed that there were no significant differences in the changes achieved between the younger Group A patients and the older Group B patients.

Table 3. Illustrates the % change in parameters post-programme in order to take into account the differences in baseline parameters between the groups.

	Mean % change in parameters (SD) by age group
	<70 years (n = 202)	n	>70 years (n = 122)	n	Mann-Whitney U test
FEV^1	0.5 (16)	123	−0.6 (15)	82	p = NS(non-significant)
ISWT	25.4 (51.5)	127	43.6 (100)	89	p = NS
ESWT	49.7 (106)	123	47.2 (97.6)	87	p = NS
SGRQ Total	−1 (34.6)	97	−6 (23.3)	61	p = NS
HADS – A	−0.36 (67.9)	126	13.1 (109.0)	85	p = NS
HADS – D	0.5 (73.2)	126	9.8 (73.4)	88	p = NS
Right Grip	11.9 (27.1)	129	22.7 (75.2)	86	p = NS
Left Grip	9.7 (28.5)	128	13 (48)	87	p = NS
mMRC	−0 (73)	77	16.9 (110.2)	51	p = NS
CAT	−4.4 (38.1)	83	−4.8 (43.3)	58	p = NS

No significant differences between age groups were found.

Table 4. The association between baseline characteristics FEV¹ (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), BMI (body mass index) and CAT (COPD Assessment Test).

	Group A (<70 years)	Group B (>70 years)
Baseline BMI	Numbers too small for analysis
Baseline FEV^1	FEV^1 < 1 L associated with:clinically significant change in HADS FEV1 < 1 L associated with clinically significant change in CAT	FEV^1 < 1 L associated with: clinically significant change in HADS
Baseline CAT	Lower baseline CAT associated with: clinically significant change in CAT clinically significant change in ISWT (Mann-Whitney only) clinically significant change in SGRQ	Lower baseline CAT associated with: clinically significant change in CAT clinically significant change in ISWT