Why the study?
In advanced COPD, symptoms severely impact physical and psychological functioning, and non-pharmacological interventions can improve quality of life and functioning.
Non-pharmacological interventions, including pulmonary rehabilitation and non-invasive ventilation, are important components of a holistic approach to managing symptoms and improving quality of life in advanced COPD.
May support holistic COPD care; leaves open need for prospective trials on implementation.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disabling condition associated with progressive airflow limitation and lung tissue damage; its main symptoms are breathlessness, fatigue, cough, and sputum production. In the advanced stage of the disease, these symptoms may severely impact on a person's physical and psychological functioning, with some also developing chronic respiratory failure, associated with blood gas abnormalities. Non-pharmacological interventions can improve quality of life and functioning in the management of people living with advanced COPD. This article will provide an overview of common non-pharmacological methods used in the symptomatic management of severe COPD, including: breathlessness and fatigue management strategies, anxiety management, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and physical activity (PA), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), airway clearance techniques (ACTs), nutrition and non-invasive ventilation (NIV). The importance of a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to people living with COPD will be discussed.
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Pyszora et al. (2022) studied this question.
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