Alahmadi Fahad H
Respiratory Therapy Department, College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Medina 41477, Saudi Arabia.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 Apr 6;61(4):673. doi: 10.3390/medicina61040673.
Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are a significantly major cause of mortality in Saudi Arabia, with their progression frequently involving comorbidities and exacerbations that extend beyond the lungs. This review considers the current state of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in Saudi Arabia, this being a well-known non-pharmacological intervention to help control and reduce the burden of CRDs, highlighting the intervention's availability, multidisciplinary approach, and integration within the healthcare system, as well as examining the diseases' contribution to overall symptom severity, impairing daily activities and significantly worsening the patient's quality of life. Although PR is strongly recommended for managing CRDs, its utilization in Saudi Arabia remains limited or unavailable in many regions. Key barriers to PR access include inadequate awareness among healthcare providers and patients, logistical challenges, and an insufficient number of specialized facilities and trained professionals. Expanding PR programs in Saudi Arabia requires addressing geographical barriers, ensuring adequate space, resources, and trained personnel, and raising awareness among healthcare providers through education and training. Integrating PR principles into medical education and offering incentives for specialization can help overcome personnel shortages. Additionally, promoting telerehabilitation can enhance patient compliance and ensure the long-term success of PR programs. These initiatives aim to optimize PR services and improve patient outcomes across the nation.
慢性呼吸道疾病（CRDs）是沙特阿拉伯主要的死亡原因，其病情进展常常涉及合并症和病情加重，且不仅限于肺部。本综述探讨了沙特阿拉伯肺康复（PR）的现状，肺康复是一种众所周知的非药物干预措施，有助于控制和减轻慢性呼吸道疾病的负担，重点介绍了该干预措施的可及性、多学科方法以及在医疗保健系统中的整合情况，同时还研究了这些疾病对整体症状严重程度的影响、对日常活动的损害以及对患者生活质量的显著恶化。尽管强烈推荐肺康复用于管理慢性呼吸道疾病，但在沙特阿拉伯，许多地区对其利用仍然有限或无法获得。肺康复可及性的主要障碍包括医疗保健提供者和患者认识不足、后勤挑战以及专门设施和训练有素的专业人员数量不足。在沙特阿拉伯扩大肺康复计划需要克服地理障碍，确保有足够的空间、资源和训练有素的人员，并通过教育和培训提高医疗保健提供者的认识。将肺康复原则纳入医学教育并提供专业化激励措施有助于克服人员短缺问题。此外，推广远程康复可以提高患者的依从性，并确保肺康复计划的长期成功。这些举措旨在优化全国的肺康复服务并改善患者预后。
