Tele-rehabilitation program in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Abstract

Background: In Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended to improve quality of life (QoL) and exercise capacity (EC). Not all patients with IPF can participate in hospital based PR due to frailty and long travelling distances. Tele-rehabilitation (TR) might be an alternative solution. We investigated the feasibility and efficacy of TR on EC and QoL in patients with IPF. Method: Single-center, prospective, randomized study, including stable patients with IPF for 3 months (3M) of TR: video and chat-consultations with a real physiotherapist and workout sessions with a virtual autonomous physiotherapist agent (VAPA). Forced vital capacity (FVC), diffusion capacity (DLCO) was registered at baseline (BL). EC evaluated with 6-minute-walk-test distance (6MWTD) and QoL with Kings Brief Interstitial Lung Diseases (KBILD) and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) before and after 3M of training. Control patients did not receive hospital-based PR. Results: 29 patients were included, 15 in the intervention group (IN) (male 86.7%, mean age 69.7±8.7 years, FVC % 76.7±16.4, DLCO % 46.5±11), and 14 in the control group (CO) (male 57.1%, mean age 72±7.6 years, FVC % 90.8±16.5, DLCO % 55±14 ). BL and 3M data can be seen in table. Conclusion: TR with VAPA is feasible for IPF. Improved EC was shown after 3M follow up.