Efficacy Of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program In Patients With Treated Pulmonary Tuberculosis

The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in developing coun¬tries is high. Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) often have impaired pulmonary function because of the anatomical changes resulting from the disease in addition to substantial adverse impacts on the patient’s quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has arisen as a proposed standard of care for the management of PTB patients. Objective was to evaluate PR efficacy on health-related quality of Life (HRQoL), lung function, and exercise capacity among patients with treated PTB. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 60 patients with cured pulmonary TB were enrolled in this prospective intervention study. They were categorized into two groups; a study group and a control group. The study group underwent a PR program consisted of supervised exercise training for upper and lower limbs, inspiratory muscle training, and educational sessions three times weekly for 12 weeks. Outcome measures were exercise capacity measured by six minutes walking distance (6MWT), pulmonary functions measured via spirometry, and HRQOL measured by St. George respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ). All these measures were evaluated before and after 12 weeks in both groups. RESULTS: Scores of 6MWT, PFTs and SGRQ improved by the end of the treatment within each group. Comparison of post-treatment results for the two groups showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in favor of the study group. In Conclusion, PR combined with lower and upper extremity exercises as well as inspiratory muscle training were correlated with a significant clinical improvement in terms of exercise capacity, lung function and HRQoL in PTB treated patients.