B74-17 Effectiveness of a Home-Based Minimally Supervised Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for COPD Patients in The Philippines, A Pilot Study

Rationale Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an evidence-based intervention that improves exercise capacity, dyspnea, and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, access to center-based programs remains limited in low-resource and rural settings. Home-based PR offers a promising alternative. The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a minimally supervised, home-based PR program on exercise capacity, dyspnea, and health status in Filipino COPD patients. Secondary objectives included assessment of adverse events and adherence. Methods A prospective, single-arm, pre-post pilot study was conducted from October 2024 to April 2025.Participants completed a 6-week home-based PR program guided by instructional videos delivered in the Filipino language. The intervention included warm-up, inspiratory muscle training, resistance training, and cool-down exercises, performed at least twice weekly. Outcomes included 6-minute walk test (6MWT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, and COPD Assessment Test (CAT). Adherence and step counts were monitored using diaries and wearable devices. Paired t-tests evaluated pre- and post-intervention differences. Results Seventeen participants completed the program (mean age 71.9 ± 10.96 years). While the improvement in 6MWT distance was not statistically significant (+24.29 meters, p = .057), significant reductions were observed in CAT scores (-6.47, p < .001) and mMRC dyspnea scale (-0.53, p = .024). All participants achieved the CAT minimal clinically important difference (MCID), and 35.3% met the MCID for both 6MWT and mMRC dyspnea scale. Overall adherence to the program was high, with only one participant withdrawn due to noncompliance. Conclusion A minimally supervised, home-based PR program delivered in the Filipino language was safe and associated with clinically meaningful improvements in dyspnea and health status. These findings underscore the potential of home -based culturally adapted pulmonary rehabilitation programs to improve care delivery in resource-limited settings. Further validation through larger, controlled studies is recommended.