OBJECTIVE: To test the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on fatigue, functional status and health perceptions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Pulmonary outpatient department. SUBJECTS: Thirty patients randomly assigned to a rehabilitation (3 men, 9 women, mean age 66 +/- 2 years) or a control group (10 men, 4 women, mean age 64 +/- 2 years). INTERVENTIONS: The patients in the rehabilitation group participated in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme comprising exercise training twice weekly, for a 12-week period, nutritional and self-care advice, and education about disease and energy conservation strategies. MAIN MEASURES: Fatigue, functional limitations due to fatigue, functional performance and satisfaction, six-minute walking distance, hand grip strength and health perception were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. RESULTS: At baseline there were no significant differences between the groups, except for gender. The six-minute walking distance was 312.6 +/- 79.3 m for the rehabilitation group and 360.3 +/- 84.7 m for the control group. After 12 weeks, the rehabilitation group improved their walking distance by 40.6 +/- 27.2 m (p < 0.05). The rehabilitation group improved in performance (from 4.8 +/- 2.0 to 6.0 +/- 1.5 scores, p < 0.01) and satisfaction (from 4.6 +/- 2.2 to 6.0 +/- 2.1 scores, p < 0.001) with regard to own selected daily activities. No statistically significant differences were seen between the changes within the rehabilitation group and changes within the control group at the 12-week follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although the pulmonary rehabilitation programme had an immediate effect, it was not sustained.

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