Pulmonary Rehabilitation Strategies for the Treatment of  Pneumoconiosis: A Narrative Review

Dingzi Zhou; Daigang Fu; Ling Yan; Lijun Peng

doi:10.18502/ijph.v52i11.14024

Dingzi Zhou West China School of Public Health, West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
Daigang Fu West China School of Public Health, West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
Ling Yan West China School of Public Health, West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
Lijun Peng West China School of Public Health, West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v52i11.14024

Keywords: Pneumoconiosis; Pulmonary rehabilitation; Treatment

Abstract

Pneumoconiosis is a collection of lung diseases caused by inhaling mineral dust that poses an important risk to public health worldwide. Effective clinical treatments are currently limited, but pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has shown promise in treating respiratory diseases. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of PR strategies for treating pneumoconiosis. We searched research studies that investigated the effectiveness of PR interventions for pneumoconiosis patients in international scientific databases and comprehensively reviewed PR strategies for the treatment of pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiosis patients are increasingly being treated with a multimodal PR program. PR interventions could save healthcare costs, reduce dyspnea, improve exercise performance, and enhance overall health-related quality of life in patients with pneumoconiosis. PR interventions are effective in improving respiratory function and quality of life in patients with pneumoconiosis. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal PR strategies for pneumoconiosis patients and to investigate the long-term effects of these interventions.