Patient characteristics and predictors of completion of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme in Auckland, New Zealand

Source: This abstract has been sourced from NZ Respiratory Research Review Issue 186

ABSTRACT

AIM: Chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are a worldwide
public health problem. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a gold-standard intervention for these diseases, yet
attendance and completion rates are poor. Counties Manukau Health, in Auckland, New Zealand, has a high
prevalence of chronic respiratory disease and a culturally diverse population, comprising large numbers of
Māori and Pacific Island people, who are known to be disproportionately affected by chronic respiratory
disease. The aim of this study was to investigate patient characteristics affecting engagement with the
Counties Manukau Health pulmonary rehabilitation programme and identify factors predicting completion
of the programme.

METHODS: Investigators performed a retrospective analysis using routinely collected data of 2,756 patients
invited to attend the pulmonary rehabilitation programme at Counties Manukau Health. Data were
analysed to compare demographic and clinical outcomes of patients who completed, did not complete or
did not attend the programme, and identified factors predicting completion.

RESULTS: Significant differences were found between groups in demographic and clinical characteristics.
Increasing age, higher six-minute walk test distance at programme commencement and European ethnicity
were significant predictors of completion of the PR programme.

CONCLUSIONS: Compared to European people, Māori were 52% less likely and Pacific Island people were
40% less likely to complete the programme. These findings are significant for the Counties Manukau Health
population. Further work needs to focus on determining how to make programmes more engaging to
different cultures and how we can aim to reduce health inequities in these populations.

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