Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common condition that can cause breathlessness and reduced physical capacity. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective treatment, but traditional programs often require patients to attend sessions several times per week, which may limit participation.
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of two supervised pulmonary rehabilitation programs: one performed 3 days per week and another performed 1 day per week, both over an 8-week period and including additional home-based exercises.
The main objective is to determine whether the lower-frequency program is not inferior to the higher-frequency program in improving functional capacity, measured by the six-minute walk test. Secondary outcomes include dyspnea, quality of life, muscle strength, physical activity, adherence, exacerbations, and safety.
The results of this study may help optimize pulmonary rehabilitation programs and improve accessibility for patients with COPD.