Swiss Study On Pulmonary Rehabilitation after Exacerbatio

Completed

Conditions: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Respiratory

Registration Number: ISRCTN84612310

Lead Sponsor: niversity Hospital of Zurich (Switzerland)

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 280

Inclusion Criteria

1. Patients after in- or outpatient treatment of acute exacerbation of COPD defined as a sustained worsening over days to weeks of the patient?s symptoms from his or her usual stable state that is beyond normal day-to-day variations and the presence of at least two of the following symptoms:
1.1. Breathlessness
1.2. Cough
1.3. Increased sputum production, and
1.4. Change in sputum colour
2. At least two exacerbations in previous two years requiring in- or outpatient care
3. Within last three years, during stable phase, documented COPD with Gold stage II to IV
4. The patient is after in- or outpatient treatment in a medical condition that allows an immediate respiratory rehabilitation or recovery at home
5. More than 40 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

1. Hospitalisation for other reasons than acute exacerbation of COPD
2. Long term non-invasive ventilation (all but continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP], which is allowed)
3. Other lung diseases: Doctor diagnosed asthma and/or more than 20% reversibility of airflow obstruction after beta-2-mimetika during stable phase of COPD
4. Patients who cannot be randomised to usual care for medical reasons:
4.1. Impaired level of consciousness
4.2. Acute confusion
4.3. Acute changes on the radiograph or electrocardiogram
4.4. Arterial pH less than 7.35, or
4.5. Concomitant medical conditions
5. Orthopaedic, rheumatologic, cardiovascular or neurological disorders that inhibit exercise training, gymnastic or guided walking tours
6. Inability to follow patient education due to language (no German, French or Italian as communication language) or mental disorders (e.g. substance abuse, psychosis, dementia)