Low rates of participation and completion of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary health care

Background: Only 6% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) participate in pulmonary rehabilitation programs (PR) and only 50% of those who participate, complete these programs. Aim: To determine rates of PR program participation and completion among patients with COPD in Chile. Material and Methods: Analysis of a database available at the Ministry of Health, which included data of 277491 patients with COPD (55% females) and their participation in PR programs, between 2014 and 2016. Results: Forty percent of patients were over 75 years of age. Participation rates in PR programs ranged from 2.4 to 2.9%. Rates of completion ranged from 26 to 36%. Conclusions: There is a low rate of participation in PR programs among patients with COPD. Approximately one third of participants complete these programs.