Short and long-term effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in Idiopatic Pulmonary Fibrosis: The evidence of benefits of exercise training

Abstract

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, devastating, interstitial lung disease, with few therapeutic options. IPF is characterized by pulmonary restriction, dyspnea, hypoxemia, exercise intolerance and poor quality of life (QOL). Aims and objective: We aimed to examine the effect of exercise training (ET) on clinical outcomes and on quality of life and symptoms in IPF patients. Methods: Subjects who met current criteria for IPF were randomized to a 3-month pulmonary rehabilitation program (n _ 14) or to a control group (n _ 10). The rehabilitation group participated in twiceweekly, 90-min exercise sessions (24 total sessions). The control group maintained its preceding normal physical activity. 6-min walking distance (6MWD) test, 30-second chair-stand test, pulmonary function tests, dyspnea and QOL were assessed at baseline and at the end of the 12-week intervention. The SGRQ-I and a 5-point self-assessment of health were completed at baseline, after 3 months of intervention or observation. Results: Subjects in the rehabilitation group maintained significantly higher levels of physical activity throughout the 3-month rehabilitation program. SGRQ-I symptom domain scores improved considerably by _9 _ 22 in the rehabilitation group, whereas in the control group they worsened Significant differences were observed between the ET and the control groups in raw mean: Δ6MWD, 94 m, p Conclusion: ET improves exercise tolerance, functional capacity, pulmonary function, dyspnea and QOL in patients with IPF and should be considered the standard care for IPF.