Rehabilitation interventions improve functional outcomes in bronchiectasis patients, though implementation remains inconsistent across clinical settings.
This mini review evaluates contemporary evidence regarding rehabilitation interventions for patients with bronchiectasis within the context of clinical practice and international guidelines. The population consists of patients with bronchiectasis, and the sample size is not reported as this is a narrative review rather than a primary study. The review compares rehabilitation interventions—including airway clearance, exercise training, physical activity promotion, digitally enabled care models, home-based strategies, and patient-managed approaches—against traditional paradigms and established practices.
Main results indicate that rehabilitation interventions are recommended to address functional impairment and improve clinical relevance. Airway clearance and exercise training remain foundational components. Increasing evidence supports individualized, multimodal rehabilitation approaches, including digitally enabled care models and tele-rehabilitation. However, the review notes that implementation in clinical practice remains inconsistent and access to comprehensive rehabilitation programs remains limited for many patients.
Safety and tolerability data were not reported in this review, as no specific adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, or tolerability metrics were extracted from the underlying studies. Key limitations include persistent uncertainties regarding optimal prescription, implementation strategies, and long-term outcomes. The practice relevance is defined by European Respiratory Society guidance, which supports use based on defined patient profiles and evidence strength, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions despite current gaps in consistent delivery.