[Long term effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD and interstitial lung disease--synopsis of databases since 1990].

The efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation with a multi-disciplinary approach has been demonstrated especially in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This review focuses particularly on the long-term outcome of pulmonary rehabilitation. Significant improvements have been demonstrated with respect to quality of life and exercise capacity up to one year after rehabilitation. Further investigations are still required on other outcome measures such as effects on repeated hospitalization, different types of rehabilitation (in-patient, out-patient, combined), and on rehabilitation of patients with non-obstructive pulmonary diseases.