Who is the program intended for?

Although an overwhelming majority of the patients who participate in pulmonary rehabilitation programs have COPD, numerous other kinds of patients can also enjoy its benefits. Here are a few examples:

• interstitial fibrosis
• lung cancer
• pulmonary hypertension
• respiratory problems linked to sleep disorders
• patients who have had a lung transplant
• patients who have had lung volume reduction surgery

Pulmonary rehabilitation is appropriate for any patient with a stable chronic pulmonary disease, whose respiratory symptoms give rise to a disability.

Who should participate in such a program?

• Patients who are motivated. Motivation is an essential prerequisite to the success of the program, but a skilled caregiver can help build a patient's motivation.
• Patients whose disease is stable - However, numerous studies have demonstrated a tendency to exclude too many patients on account of their health status. It should be recalled that it is beneficial to include certain kinds of patients, although it might be necessary to adapt the program to the particularities of any given patient's disease.
• Patients who have a low level of activity and increased shortness of breath, notwithstanding an optimal pharmacological treatment.

Who should be excluded from such a program?

Patients with the following problems:

• Severe cognitive problems
• A severe psychotic disorder
• A high-risk infectious disease

Savoir faire la part des choses...

Les patients qui présentent un désordre neurologique ou musculo-squelettique ainsi que ceux qui ont une maladie cardiovasculaire instable (ex. : angine) devraient être exclus du volet d'exercice du programme, mais devraient malgré tout avoir accès au volet d'autogestion.