Table 1 Characteristics of included studies

Behnke 2000 [19] and 2003 [20]

26 COPD patients (mean age 67 years, 77% males, mean FEV₁ = 36% predicted) after inpatient treatment for acute exacerbation.

Rehabilitation: Within 4–7 days after admission, inpatient respiratory rehabilitation with endurance exercise (5 walking sessions/day for 10 days), followed by six months of supervised home-based endurance exercise (3 walking sessions/day for 6 months)

Usual care: Standard inpatient care without exercise and standard community care with respirologist.

18 months

CRQ, Transition dyspnea index, 6 MWT, hospital readmission, mortality

Kirsten 1998 [22]

29 COPD patients (mean age 64 years, 90% males, mean FEV₁ = 36% predicted) after inpatient treatment for acute exacerbation.

Rehabilitation: Within 6–8 days after admission, inpatient respiratory rehabilitation with endurance exercise (5 walking sessions/day for 10 days).

Usual care: Standard inpatient care without exercise.

11 days

Transition dyspnea index, 6 MWT

Man 2003 [24]

42 COPD patients (mean age 70 years, 41% males, FEV₁ = 39% predicted) after inpatient treatment for acute exacerbation.

Rehabilitation: Multidisciplinary outpatient respiratory rehabilitation (within 10 days of discharge) with endurance and strength exercise and patient education for 12 weeks (2 sessions/week).

Usual care: Standard community care with respirologist

12 weeks

CRQ, SGRQ, Short form survey 36, shuttle walk test, hospital readmission, hospital days, emergency admissions, mortality

Murphy 2005 [21]

26 COPD patients (mean age 66 years, 65% males, mean FEV₁ = 40% predicted) after home for hospital treatment for acute exacerbation.

Rehabilitation: Supervised home-based respiratory rehabilitation with endurance and strength exercise for 6 weeks (2 supervised sessions/week and daily unsupervised sessions).

Usual care: Standard community care with respirologist

6 months

SGRQ, EuroQol, MRC dyspnea scale, shuttle walk test, 3-minute step test, hospital readmission

Nava 1997 [23]

70 COPD patients (mean age 66 years, 73% males, mean FEV₁ = 32% predicted, 76% needed mechanical ventilation) admitted to inpatient care for treatment of acute exacerbation.

Rehabilitation: Within 3–5 days after admission, inpatient respiratory rehabilitation with four steps of increasing intensity.

Step I, if unable to walk: Mobilisation and strength training for lower extremities.

Step II, if able to walk: Endurance exercise (walking)

Step III, if possible: Endurance exercise (cycling and stair climbing) and respiratory muscle training

IV, if possible: Endurance exercise (cycling at highest tolerated intensity, 2 sessions/day for 3 weeks)

Usual care: Only steps I and II.

6 weeks

Dyspnea on exertion, 6 MWT, mortality

Troosters 2002 [25, 26]

48 COPD patients (mean age 62 years, 85% males, FEV₁ = 39% predicted) after inpatient treatment for acute exacerbation.

Rehabilitation: Outpatient respiratory rehabilitation with endurance and strength exercise for 6 months (3 sessions/week in first 3 months, then 2/week).

Usual care: Standard community care with respirologist.

6 months (6 MWT) and 4 years (survival)

6 MWT, mortality