Variability in access and referral to pulmonary rehabilitation in European bronchiectasis patients enrolled in the EMBARC registry

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended in national and international bronchiectasis and PR guidelines. However, anecdotally access to and uptake of PR is variable. This study examined what factors influenced attendance at PR in people with bronchiectasis who had a mMRC score of at least 2, using the EMBARC multicentre prospective registry which included data from 27 European 4834 people with mean age of 57 (SD 17) years, mean FEV1 of 1.5 (SD 0.32) L (58% predicted) and 2 (IQR 0-3) co-morbidities were examined. Median annual exacerbations number was 3 (IQR 1-5) and hospitalisation was 0 (IQR 0-1). Mean BSI score was 4.9. Overall 1527 (32%) had attended PR while 3307 (68%) had not. Attendance at PR was associated with a lower FEV1 (55% vs. 60% predicted; p People with bronchiectasis experience variable access and/or referral to pulmonary rehabilitation in different countries and healthcare economies should examine their support and investment in PR services. The reasons for these differences are worthy of further examination