Pulmonary rehabilitation for bronchiectasis: if not now, when?

Bronchiectasis, long considered an "orphan" disease, is now increasing in prevalence in both Europe [1] and North America [2]. Characterised by chronic cough with sputum production and permanently dilated airways [3], advanced disease may result in respiratory insufficiency due to airway obstruction. Many patients suffer from substantially impaired quality of life [4, 5], likely due to chronic respiratory symptoms (dyspnoea, cough, sputum production, wheeze), respiratory exacerbations, fatigue, exercise limitation, psychological symptoms, and constitutional manifestations of chronic infection and inflammation.
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Editorials Source Type: research