According to a study published in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention showed that only 3.7% of older patients with COPD used pulmonary rehabilitation as of 2012.

Researchers found that the number of individuals with COPD who received PR increased from 2.6% in 2003 to 3.7% in 2012 (P = .001). The modest increase in PR use was primarily an increase in frequency for those who already used PR, and not an increase in new PR users.

The result of low PR use is consistent with previous international studies that reported between a 1% and 2% PR use in patients with COPD, the researchers wrote. A recent survey showed that although 32% of primary care physicians had PR available, only 3% believed it was beneficial for patients.

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