Effect of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program on the levels of anxiety and depression and on the quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective: To analyze the effect of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP) on the levels of anxiety and depression and the quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Method: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who completed the PRP of 3 weekly sessions of 60 min duration for 12 weeks, a total of 36 sessions, were assessed using Beck Inventory (BAI and BDI) and Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Results: A total of 125 individuals, with an average age of 637 +/- 8.8 years, FEV1: 1.17 +/- 0.57 L (43.18 +/- 18.79% predicted), 61.6% male and 38.4% female, were analyzed. The BAI and BDI before and after PRP were, respectively, 10.15 +/- 6.32 vs. 7.67 +/- 7.21; p = 0.0041 and 12.60 +/- 7.99 vs. 8.96 +/- 7.29; p = 0.00016. The results of the SGRQ domains were, respectively, Before and After symptoms (48.53 +/- 20.41 vs. 32.58 +/- 18.95), Activity (69.15 +/- 20.79 vs. 52.42 +/- 23.70), Impact (32.92 +/- 18.29 vs. 20.27 +/- 16.70), Total (46.69 +/- 16.90 vs. 32.07 +/- 16.96). When correlating the BDI to the domains of the SGRQ, weak correlations were observed (Symptoms r = 0.22; p = 0.01; Activity r = 0.28; p = 0.001; Impact r = 0.52; p = 2.72; Total r = 0.44; p = 0.17). In the same way, weak correlations were observed when correlating the BAI to the SGRQ (Symptoms r = 0.28; p = 0.0009; Activity r = 0.32; p = 0.0005; Impact r = 0.42; p = 7.33; Total r = 0.43; p = 0.74). Conclusion: Although the PRP improves levels of depression and anxiety as well as the quality of life in patients with COPD, no significant correlation of these analyzed variables was observed. (C) 2013 Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.