Different short-term and longitudinal results on perceived health status for asthma and COPD patients after pulmonary rehabilitation. Patients living alone have the largest improvements in perceived quality of life.

A combined sample (n = 132) of asthma (70%, n = 92) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (30%, n = 40) patients was assessed for short-term and longitudinal changes in perceived health status (HS), quality of life (QoL), and trait anxiety after a 4-week inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP). The total sample improved on HS (P = 0.009 effect size (ES) = 0.12) and QoL (P = 0.011, ES = 0.16) immediately after rehabilitation but improvements diminished at 6 months follow-up. Trait anxiety scores changed very little. The COPD group improved on HS immediately after the rehabilitation program (P = 0.005, ES = 0.16) but scores had deteriorated at follow-up. The asthma group had only a small and non-significant HS improvement immediately after the program but got better during the follow-up period and improved significantly on HS (P = 0.040, ES = 0.21) from before rehabilitation to follow-up 6 months after the program. Within both diagnosis groups, patients who were living alone had the largest improvements in QoL scores. PRP may have different longitudinal effects for patients with asthma and COPD. After-care procedures are probably important in rehabilitation of patients with COPD.