Depressive symptoms in patients with COPD as predictors of efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) aims to improve exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD). However, not all patients do benefit from PR. In the present study we examined whether depressive symptoms are associated with improvement of endurance exercise capacity. Methods: 78 patients with COPD who participated in PR. Age 56 ± 10 years, FEV1%predicted 42 ± 18. At baseline lung function, body mass index (BMI), incremental and endurance shuttle walk tests (ISWT/ESWT) and depression test (BDI-II) were performed. The ESWT and BDI-II were repeated after PR. Findings: ESWT and BDI-II change after PR; ΔESWT was 182 ± 190 % (p<0.001), BDI-II pre PR was 13.6 ± 8.1, BDI-II post PR was 10.6 ± 6.7 (p<0.001). BDI-II pre PR (Ï= -0.09), BDI-II post PR (Ï=- 0.19) and ΔBDI-II (Ï=-0.07) were not correlated with ΔESWT. Discussion: Depressive symptoms do not predict response to exercise training. Change in depressive symptoms and response in exercise capacity after PR seem to be two distinct processes.