Factors influencing the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective study.

Objective: To investigate the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in older adults with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and analyze its influencing factors. Methods: From January 2023 to April 2024, convenience sampling was adopted to collect 254 stable patients with COPD who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in a Classiii hospital in Nantong City as the research objects. Among them, 196 patients completed the PR course and were finally included in the study. According to the PR benefit criteria, they were divided into the benefit group and the non-benefit group, and the incidence of benefit and influencing factors were analyzed. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to plot the trend profiles of physical capacity and quality of life before rehabilitation and at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after rehabilitation. Results: A total of 196 patients completed the PR course, 107 patients achieved PR benefit, benefit at a rate of 54.59%. Logistic regression analysis showed that, Chronic pain (OR = 0.43, 95%Cl:0.22 ~ 0.83, p = 0.011), baseline 6MWD (OR = 0.98, 95%Cl:0.96 ~ 0.99, p < 0.001), sarcopenia (OR = 0.50, 95%Cl:0.27 ~ 0.95, p = 0.035), better economic situation (OR = 1.96, 95%Cl:1.03 ~ 3.71, p = 0.039), and good family care index (OR = 2.11, 95%Cl:1.08 ~ 4.11, p = 0.029) were the influencing factors of pulmonary rehabilitation benefits in older adults with stable COPD. Conclusion: The PR benefit rate of patients with clinically stable COPD is low, which is mainly affected by the baseline 6MWD, chronic pain, sarcopenia, economic situation, and family care index. Clinical medical staff should consider the influencing factors when they perform PR for patients.