Pulmonary rehabilitation and sleep quality: a before and after controlled study of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) does not improve sleep quality in patients with chronic obstrutive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sleep quality is compromised in up to 70% of patients with the disease but the underlying cause is unclear. A study led by Patrick White at King's College London, UK, and colleagues assessed sleep quality in 28 patients with COPD before and after completing an 8-week PR programme. Although the programme had positive effects on exercise capacity and mood, no improvements in sleep quality,as measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index,were observed compared with a control group. PR has been shown to improve the quality of life of patients with COPD but specific strategies other than PR, for example, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, are needed to improve the quality of their sleep.