Key Points
➤ Despite the known benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for patients
with chronic respiratory disease, this treatment is underutilized.
➤ The ATS seeks to improve the care of patients with chronic respiratory
diseases (CRD) by fostering PR program access, encouraging enhancement
of healthcare professionals (HCPs) trained in the discipline of PR, and
implementing newer models of PR beyond the research setting, while
maintaining essential components and optimal standards of care within PR
programs.
Recommendation 1
➤ For adults with stable chronic respiratory disease (COPD), we recommend
participation in pulmonary rehabilitation (strong recommendation,
moderate quality evidence).
Recommendation 2
➤ For adults with COPD, we recommend participation in pulmonary
rehabilitation following hospitalization for an exacerbation of COPD
(strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence).
Recommendation 3
➤ For adults with interstitial lung disease (ILD), we recommend participation
in pulmonary rehabilitation (strong recommendation, moderate quality
evidence).
Recommendation 4
➤ For adults with pulmonary hypertension, we suggest participation in
pulmonary rehabilitation (conditional recommendation, low quality
evidence).
Recommendation 5
➤ For adults with stable CRD, we recommend offering the choice of
center-based pulmonary rehabilitation or telerehabilitation (strong
recommendation, moderate quality evidence).
Recommendation 6
➤ For adults with COPD, we suggest either supervised maintenance
pulmonary rehabilitation or usual care after initial pulmonary
rehabilitation (conditional recommendation, low quality evidence).
Recommendations
