Introduction: Respiratory rehabilitation is an essential multidisciplinary intervention that improves functionality, mental health, and quality of life for chronic patients, with benefits that can last up to two years (Sebastião, V. S. O., 2025). Materials and Methods: Evaluating the effectiveness of an exercise training program on functionality and quality of life in a sample with COPD, and analyzing medium-term (6 months) and long-term (12 months) benefits. This is a longitudinal retrospective analytical study with a convenience sample of 11 patients (65.7 ± 6.7 years) in a respiratory rehabilitation program, diagnosed with COPD, evaluated at four time points: Initial-T0, Final-T1, 6 months-T2, and 12 months-T3. Muscle strength (1RM), agility (TUG), aerobic capacity (6MWT), disease impact (CAT), and quality of life (EuroQol) were analyzed. Paired t-tests were used for comparisons and Pearson’s coefficient (r) for correlations, with significance set at ρ<0.05. Results: Significant improvements were observed (ρ<0.05): lower limb strength (1RM-LL) increased by 30.1%, and TUG improved by 14.6%. At 6 months: a functional decline began—TUG regressed from 9.92s (T1) to 11.26s (T3), and 1RM-LL decreased from 8.24kg (T1) to 7.65kg (T2). Quality of life metrics showed resilience: EuroQol remained stable between the end of treatment and the 6-month mark (0.55 vs 0.56); CAT showed marginal variation (14.9 vs 15.8). Statistically, the strength gain (T1-T0) strongly correlated with agility improvement at 6 months (r = -0.61), suggesting that initial strength protects medium-term functionality. Longitudinal analysis (12 months): a regression in functionality occurred (TUG returned to baseline values); however, a positive perception of quality of life (EuroQol: 0.55 to 0.62) and a reduction in disease impact (CAT: 18.9 to 13.2) were maintained. Conclusions: The results reveal that the peak of functional efficacy occurs immediately after the program, with a progressive loss of agility and strength after 6 months, while the durability of quality of life indicators is maintained.
Lopes et al. (Wed,) studied this question.