Towards health benefits in chronic respiratory diseases: Pulmonary Rehabilitation

To date, pulmonary rehabilitation is defined by the ATS and ERS as a comprehensive intervention based on a thorough patient assessment followed by patient-tailored therapies which include, but are not limited to, exercise training, education and behavior change, designed to improve the physical and psychological condition of people with chronic respiratory disease and to promote the long-term adherence to health-enhancing behaviors. Daily symptoms, lower-limb muscle function, exercise capacity and health status will improve following pulmonary rehabilitation in individuals with chronic respiratory disease. Moreover, healthcare costs are likely to decrease following a pulmonary rehabilitation course. So, it seems fair to conclude that pulmonary rehabilitation is a cardinal part of COPD management, and a useful intervention in other chronic respiratory diseases. Taking all these facts into account, the Editorial Board of the European Respiratory Review decided to invite a group of international experts to write a review series on pulmonary rehabilitation