Abstract:
Background Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is formally indicated to all COPD patients in groups B and E. It positively impacts dyspnoea, health-related quality of life and exercise tolerance, reducing admissions among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have had a recent exacerbation and symptoms of anxiety and depression. There is limited access to PR programmes in Portugal, partially due to insufficient resources or referrals. This study aims to characterise COPD patients and assess whether they have criteria for PR programmes. Data from this study may provide strategic information for healthcare organisations to differentiate and innovate their response to COPD patients. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban municipality in the northern region of Portugal. The sample was randomly extracted from the national primary electronic health records. The sample size (n = 339) was determined considering the population of COPD patients in this region (N = 2818), a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of 5%. Results In this population, the prevalence of COPD is 1.8%. Furthermore, in this sample, 40% (n = 136) of people diagnosed with COPD have a formal indication to participate in PR programmes, although only 14.2% (n = 48) of these patients had access to PR. Conclusion COPD is probably underdiagnosed in this Portuguese region. Most COPD patients have eligibility criteria to be offered PR programmes, although most of them do not benefit from this vital treatment. Investing in community and home-based programmes may increase PR access, reducing acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) admissions.
摘要:
背景肺康复(PR)正式适用于B组和E组的所有COPD患者。它对呼吸困难有积极影响,与健康相关的生活质量和运动耐量,减少近期加重且出现焦虑和抑郁症状的慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者的入院率.葡萄牙的公关项目有限,部分原因是资源不足或转介。这项研究旨在描述COPD患者的特征,并评估他们是否有PR计划的标准。这项研究的数据可能为医疗机构提供战略信息,以区分和创新他们对COPD患者的反应。方法在葡萄牙北部地区的一个城市进行了横断面研究。样本从国家初级电子健康档案中随机抽取。样本量(n=339)是考虑到该地区的COPD患者(N=2818),95%的置信水平和5%的误差幅度。结果在这个人群中,COPD的患病率为1.8%.此外,在这个样本中,40%(n=136)被诊断为COPD的人有正式的参与PR项目的指征,尽管这些患者中只有14.2%(n=48)获得了PR。结论该葡萄牙地区COPD可能诊断不足。大多数COPD患者有资格接受PR计划,尽管他们中的大多数人都无法从这种重要的治疗中受益。投资于社区和家庭计划可能会增加公关机会,减少慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重(AECOPD)入院。