Efficacy of remote respiratory rehabilitation in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and factors affecting acute exacerbation.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effects of remote respiratory rehabilitation on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and identify factors influencing acute exacerbation.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 60 stable COPD patients who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University between June 2020 and December 2021. Among them, 27 patients in the control group received routine health guidance, while 33 patients in the research group received WeChat app-based remote respiratory rehabilitation. The study comparatively analyzed pulmonary function (PF; forced vital capacity percentage [FVC%], forced expiratory volume in 1 second percentage [FEV1%], and FEV1/FVC), blood oxygen saturation (SaO), dyspnea index (Borg Dyspnea Scale), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), number of hospitalizations, frequency of acute exacerbations, and health-related quality of life (measured using the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire [CRQ]). Additionally, univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors contributing to acute exacerbation in stable COPD patients.

RESULTS

Significant improvement in FVC%, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC, SaO, 6MWD, and various CRQ scores were observed in the research group after treatment with higher values than the control group (all P<0.05). The Borg Dyspnea Scale scores were significantly lower in the research group than those of the control group (P<0.05). The research group had significantly fewer hospitalizations and acute exacerbations compared to the control group (P<0.05). Univariate analysis indicated that body mass index (BMI; P=0.042), smoking history (P=0.011), chronic respiratory failure (P=0.010), diabetes (P=0.024), hypertension (P=0.008), and treatment modality (P=0.006) were significantly associated with acute exacerbations in stable COPD patients. Multivariate analysis identified that hypertension (P=0.032) and treatment methods (P=0.022) were risk factors for acute exacerbation in stable COPD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Remote respiratory rehabilitation significantly benefits stable COPD patients by improving respiratory function, exercise endurance, and quality of life. Moreover, hypertension and conventional health guidance interventions are closely associated with an increased risk of acute exacerbation in stable COPD patients.