RESUMEN
The purpose of this study is to report on the continuation rate of an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation service for people with pulmonary disease. In Japan, Kaigo Hoken, the long-term care insurance system for the elderly, went into effect on April 1, 2000. Under this system, a special day care service was established in our hospital in order to continue outpatient rehabilitation for the elderly with pulmonary diseases. In the present study we analyzed the continuation rate of pulmonary rehabilitation in day care for a period of 2 years. Sixty-five stable patients with chronic respiratory failure were enrolled in the program. The continuation rates for 1 year and 2 years were 67.7% and 50.8%. We found that the continuation rate was high even for patients over 75 years old. Twenty patients died during the course of the program. When these 20 cases are excluded, the continuation rates for one year and 2 years become 88.9% and 73.3%. Our day care is the first service of its kind in Japan designed specifically for chronic pulmonary disease patients. It also includes a pick-up service and social activity support. In the future, the use of social resources like our day care service for the elderly with pulmonary diseases may play an important and beneficial role in continuing outpatient rehabilitation.