On the basis of current insights, the American Thoracic Society
(ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) have adopted
the following new definition of pulmonary rehabilitation: “Pulmonary
rehabilitation is a comprehensive intervention based on a thorough
patient assessment followed by patient-tailored therapies that
include, but are not limited to, exercise training, education, and
behavior change, designed to improve the physical and psychological
condition of people with chronic respiratory disease and to
promote the long-term adherence to health-enhancing behaviors.”
Since the previous Statement, we now more fully understand
the complex nature of COPD, its multisystem manifestations, and
frequent comorbidities. Therefore, integrated care principles are
being adopted to optimize the management of these complex
patients (2). Pulmonary rehabilitation is now recognized as a core
component of this process (Figure 1) (3). Health behavior change
is vital to optimization and maintenance of benefits from any
intervention in chronic care, and pulmonary rehabilitation has
taken a lead in implementing strategies to achieve this goal.