Application of pulmonary rehabilitation combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine characteristic therapy in patients with respiratory sarcopenia

Objective To investigate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation training combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) characteristic therapy on respiratory function, muscle strength, muscle mass, exercise endurance, and quality of life in patients with respiratory sarcopenia. Methods Sixty-four patients with respiratory sarcopenia admitted to the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, from January 2023 to December 2024 were selected as research subjects. They were divided into a control group (n=32) and an observation group (n=32) by generating a random number table. The control group received conventional intervention, while the observation group received pulmonary rehabilitation combined with TCM characteristic therapy on the basis of conventional treatment. The pulmonary function ［forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the ratio of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1/FVC)］, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), handgrip strength (HGS), nutritional status, physical condition, exercise function, quality of life, health status, and the 90-day unplanned readmission rate of the two groups were compared. Results Patients in the observation group showed significantly higher levels of FVC、FEV1、FEV1/FVC、SMI、HGS scores at 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months compared to the control group (P＜0. 05). Patients in the observation group showed significantly longer 6MWT at 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months compared to the control group (P＜0. 01). The 90-day unplanned readmission rate in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (10. 87% vs. 23. 91%, P＜0. 05). Conclusion Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation training combined with TCM characteristic therapy can significantly improve the respiratory function of patients with respiratory sarcopenia, reduce the degree of dyspnea, enhance muscle strength and mass, increase exercise endurance, lower readmission rates, and enhance patients' quality of life. (目的 探讨肺康复训练联合中医特色治疗对呼吸性肌少症患者呼吸功能、肌肉力量、肌肉质量、运动耐力的影响。方法 选取2023年1月—2024年12月贵州省人民医院呼吸与危重症医学科收治的64例呼吸性肌少症患者为研究对象, 采用随机数字表法分为对照组(n=32)与观察组(n=32)。对照组接受常规干预治疗, 观察组在其基础上进行肺康复联合中医特色治疗干预。比较干预前后两组患者肺功能［用力肺活量(FVC)、第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)、第1秒用力呼气容积与用力肺活量的比值(FEV1/FVC)］、骨骼肌质量指数(SMI)、握力(HGS)、健康状况以及患者90天非计划再入院率。结果 训练4周、12周、6个月后, 观察组患者 FVC、FEV1、FEV1/FVC、SMI、HGS 均高于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。训练4周、12周、6个月后, 观察组患者6MWT均高于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 01)。观察组患者90 d非计划再入院率10. 87%(5/46), 低于对照组的23. 91%(11/46), 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。结论 肺康复训练联合中医特色治疗能有效提升呼吸性肌少症患者的呼吸功能, 减轻呼吸困难的程度, 增强肌肉力量和质量, 提高运动耐力, 降低非计划再入院率, 对提升患者生存质量具有积极意义。)