Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Sarcoidosis - First Results of the Prospective German Multi-Center Study: ProKaSaRe

Background: There are only sparse data concerning rehabilitation in sarcoidosis. Therefore we conducted a prospective multi-center study to investigate whether rehab leads to objective and subjective health changes. Method: Clinical tests and questionnaires were performed at the beginning (T0) and the end (T1) of a 3-week in-house rehab program, followed by questionnaires 3, 6, and 12 month after discharge. The components of the rehab were physical training, breathing exercises, patient education and psychosocial support. The results of the short-term effects on the first 200 patients are displayed: mean-age 49.3±9.7 years, 56,2% male, 48.7% under systemic corticosteroids. Discussion: The significant and clinically meaningful short term results of relevant outcomes like exercise capacity (6MWD), quality of life (SGRQ, SF 36), fatique (FAS) and dyspnea (MRC) suggest a high impact of rehabilitation on health related outcomes in sarcoidosis. Sponsored by Sarkoidose Stiftung and Deutsche Lungenstiftung e.V.