Experience with pulmonary rehabilitation program in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To present the experience with the first pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: The prospectively collected data of patients referred to PR program in Saudi Arabia over 30 months starting on July 2004, were reviewed. A standard outpatient PR was offered to those patients with chronic lung diseases. Those patients attended to were classified as adherent or non adherent. There data were analyzed, as well as, the reasons for non-adherence.

RESULTS: Out of 121 patients referred to the PR center during the study period, 89 (73.6%) attended PR program and 32 (26.4%) did not attend their initial appointment. Among 89 patients who attended the PR program, 51 (57.3%) were adherent, while 38 (42.7%) attended but were non-adherent. The demographic data and the basic physiological parameters of both groups were not significantly different. Reasons for non-adherence were: difficulties in transportation (34.2%), admission to the hospital (23.7%), and no specific reason (42.1%). Upon completion of the PR, the exercise parameters in the adherent group showed significant improvement in the 6 minutes walk distance, and the distance and time spent in the treadmill, arm ergometer, and bicycle.

CONCLUSION: Implementing a PR program in a tertiary care centre in Saudi Arabia was feasible and led to marked improvement in exercise performance and overall physical fitness.