Overview on pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an evidence-based multidisciplinary treatment for patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The indications for PR prescription are given if there is a rehabilitation capability, a need for rehabilitation and a beneficial rehabilitation prognosis. The aims of PR are to reduce symptoms and to improve the quality of life and the patients' physical capacity. The effectiveness of PR is well-proven for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the highest level of evidence and for non-COPD patients with an increasing level of evidence based on randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses. The treatment content of PR is individually adapted to the patients' needs by a multimodal and multidisciplinary treatment team. To maintain the rehabilitation benefits of PR there is the possibility to participate in outpatient follow-up programs as well as to use digital technologies.