What is the availability and demographic focus of pulmonary rehabilitation programmes in UK hospitals?
A national survey highlights a gap in the availability and appropriate age-targeted referral for pulmonary rehabilitation programs in the UK.
Around 40% of surveyed hospitals run a pulmonary rehabilitation programme and most of the programmes are similar in their format, content and staffing. Despite the high prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related disability in old age most programmes chiefly included younger subjects. This may reflect lack of referral. Greater awareness and expansion of availability of programmes is indicated.
Yohannes et al. (2004) studied this question.