Effects of individualized pulmonary rehabilitation on respiratory function and exercise endurance in pneumoconiosis patients

OBJECTIVES: To explore the impact of individualized pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program on respiratory function, exercise endurance and quality of life in pneumoconiosis patients, aiming to provide scientific and effective methods for rehabilitation treatment of pneumoconiosis patients. METHODS: A total of 198 pneumoconiosis patients were selected based on the data of pneumoconiosis patients at various pneumoconiosis rehabilitation stations in Longyan City, Fujian Province from August 2022 to August 2023. Patients were randomly divided into control group and rehabilitation group according to the random digits table method. Patients in the two groups were given routine treatment, whereas patients in the rehabilitation group received individualized PR treatment in addition. Pulmonary function indicators (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF, MEF75%, MEF50%, MEF25%), six-minute walk distance (6MWD), Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, Borg scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were used to evaluate and compare the efficacy of the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, statistically significant increases in FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, MEF75%, MEF50% and MEF25% were detected in the rehabilitation group after treatment (P < 0.05, effect size = 0.93,0.97,1.13,1.24,1.20,1.00,1.21). In the rehabilitation group, there were statistically significant improvements in FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, MEF75%, MEF50%, MEF25% following treatment compared to baseline measurements (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, we observed a significant decreases in CAT, mMRC, Borg scale and HADS scores (P < 0.05, effect size =-1.12,-0.75,-1.30,-0.63,-1.07), and a significant increase in the MNA-SF score in the rehabilitation group after treatment (P < 0.05, effect size = 1.09). Following treatment, the MIP, MEP and 6MWD in the rehabilitation group significantly improved compared with the control group (P < 0.05, effect size = 0.78,0.69,1.22). CONCLUSION: Individualized PR improved the respiratory function and exercise endurance of pneumoconiosis patients, and improved their quality of life.