Table 2. Overview of the impact of comorbidities on pulmonary rehabilitation outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
StudyPatients nDesignConclusion
Carreiro [58]114Retrospective, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitationIschaemic heart disease negatively influenced improvement in health status Psychological symptoms predicted lower improvement in symptoms
Crisafulli [59]2962Retrospective, out- and inpatient pulmonary rehabilitationMetabolic diseases were inversely related to improvement in 6MWD Cardiac diseases were inversely related to improvement in health status
Crisafulli [60]316Prospective, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitationOsteoporosis was inversely related to improvement in 6MWD
Garrod [61]74Prospective, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitationDepressed patients were found to be considerably more at risk of drop-out than nondepressed patients
Greening [62]601Retrospective, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitationNo difference was observed in improvements in exercise performance and health status between BMI categories
von Leupoldt [63]238Prospective, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitationNo effect of anxiety on 6MWD after pulmonary rehabilitation Depression was associated with reduced improvement in dyspnoea during activities
Ramachandran [64]114Retrospective, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitationNo difference was observed in improvement in 6MWD, health status, unsupported arm lifts and functional performance between obese and nonobese patients
Vagaggini [65]60Retrospective, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitationCardiovascular disease was related to lack of improvement in 6MWD and health status, being overweight was associated with more pronounced improvement in 6MWD
Walsh [66]203Retrospective, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitationMetabolic disease was associated with better improvement in 6MWD
Young [67]81Prospective, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitationNonadherent patients were no more likely to have psychological symptoms than adherent patients

  • 6MWD: 6-min walk distance; BMI: body mass index.