To observe the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on BODE index and serum inflammatory factors in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

From January 2016 to December 2017, 65 patients with stable COPD at our hospital were randomly divided into two groups: pulmonary rehabilitation group (n=33) and control group (n=32). Age, disease duration, BODE index and its individual components, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and COPD quality of life score (Chinese version of the COPD-QOL scale) were measured. The relevant indicators were compared between before and after 12 weeks of treatment and between two groups by the paired sample t-test and independent sample t-test. Gender and clinical severity of COPD were compared using the χ² test between groups.

Sixty-three patients completed the study. The body mass index (BMI), modified dyspnea index (MMRC grade), and 6-minute walk test (6MWD) of the BODE index in the post-treatment group were improved compared with those before treatment [(21.5±1.4) kg/m² vs (18.7±1.2) kg/m²; (1.6±0.3) vs (2.1±0.3); (270.3±37.8) m vs (158.3±42.4), t=2.125, 2.036, and 5.021, P=0.036, 0.046, and <0.001, respectively]. 6MWD in the control group was statistically significantly improved after treatment [(188.3±40.3) m vs (160.1±39.7) m, t=2.659, P=0.009]. The improvements of BMI, MMRC, and 6MWD in the lung rehabilitation group were significantly better than those in the control group [(21.5±1.4) kg/m² vs (18.6±1.3) kg/m², (1.6±0.3) vs (2.1±0.4), (270.3±37.8) m vs (188.3±40.3) m, t=2.124, 2.031, and 4.568, P=0.038, 0.016, and <0.001, respectively]. The BODE index was also significantly improved in the lung rehabilitation group than in the control group [(3.9±0.9) scores vs (4.5±1.3) scores, t=2.131, P=0.037]. After treatment, IL-6 and TNF-α in the lung rehabilitation group were significantly lower than those before treatment [(62.1±6.4) pg/ml vs (95.9±5.9) pg/ml; (48.5±7.3) pg/ml vs (73.3±10.1) pg/ml, t=7.872 and 7.136, P<0.001 for both], and the total score of COPD-QOL was significantly higher than that before treatment [(110.5±17.8) scores vs (96.2±20.4) scores, t=7.521, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, IL-6, TNF-α, and total COPD-QOL improved significantly in the lung rehabilitation group [(62.1±6.4) pg/ml vs (94.6±6.3) pg/ml, (48.5±7.3) pg/ml vs (71.7±7.5) pg/ml, (110.5±17.8) vs (96.3±21.3), t=7.981, 7.328, and 7.526, P<0.001 for all].

Pulmonary rehabilitation can significantly improve the BODE index, reduce serum IL-6 and TNF-α, and improve the quality of life in patients with moderate to severe COPD.