American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
-
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2015
Editorial CommentIdentification of Sepsis among Ward Patients.
-
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2015
ReviewPulmonary Rehabilitation and Physical Activity in Patients with COPD.
Physical inactivity is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared with age-matched healthy individuals or patients with other chronic diseases. Physical inactivity independently predicts poor outcomes across several aspects of this disease, but it is (at least in principle) treatable in patients with COPD. Pulmonary rehabilitation has arguably the greatest positive effect of any current therapy on exercise capacity in COPD; as such, gains in this area should facilitate increases in physical activity. ⋯ Unfortunately, it is readily assumed that this translation occurs naturally. This concise clinical review will focus on the effects of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program on physical activity in patients with COPD. Changing physical activity behavior in patients with COPD needs an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together respiratory medicine, rehabilitation sciences, social sciences, and behavioral sciences.