Five-year follow-up of a one-year self-management program for patients with COPD
Original version
International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2012, 7:87-93 10.2147/COPD.S27352Abstract
Objective: Investigate long-term effects 4 years after the end of a 1-year self-management
program (SMP) with 30 hours of education and 16 hours of physical activity in patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Methods: Prospective observational outcome study. SMP focused on improving disease related
self-care skills. Main outcome measures were health-related quality of life, HRQoL, (St Georges
Respiratory Questionnaire, SGRQ total) and exercise capacity (6-minute walk test, 6MWT).
Results: Thirty patients participated, 47% women. Baseline mean age was 67 years and mean
pre-bronchodilator FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) percentage predicted was
41.3. HRQoL showed a statistical significant improvement during the 1-year intervention.
Four years after the end of the program SGRQ total was similar to baseline value, 1.4 points
(95% CI: –3.6 to 6.3, P = 0.580). Also 6MWT was similar to baseline value at the same test
point, –10 m (95% CI: –27 to 8, P = 0.262), and 63% reported having continued to exercise
regularly a minimum of three times per week during the follow-up period.
Conclusion: The participants in a 1-year self-management program with additional training
had maintained their pre-intervention level of HRQoL and exercise capacity 4 years after the
end of the program. Two out of three participants had continued to exercise regularly.