WS21.10 Respiratory muscle endurance training with normocapnic hyperpnea in patients with cystic fibrosis. A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Objectives The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of an eight weeks respiratory muscle endurance training with normocapnic hyperpnea (RMNH) in a group of patients with CF on the following outcomes: respiratory muscles endurance, exercise tolerance (six minutes walk test), health-related quality of life (CFQ-R) and lung function (FVC, FEV1, MVV, MIP, MEP). Methods Ten patients with CF (4F), age 21–40 were included, randomly assigned to RMNH program (RMNH and standard chest physiotherapy) or control group (standard chest physiotherapy alone). Respiratory muscle endurance, six minutes walk distance, health-related quality of life as measured by the CFQ-R questionnaire and lung function (FVC, FEV1, MIP, MEP) were measured before and after RMNH. Respiratory endurance test was performed using the SpiroTiger® device: the endurance time was calculated asking the patient to maintain a target VE of 70% of the 12-s maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) until he/she could no longer maintain the target VE. Reference values in healthy subjects have been used to set up the device. The patients underwent four 15-minute daily training sessions every week, till the end of the study. Results At the end of the study we observed a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the 6MWT walk distance: study group 665±30 m; control group 569±30 m (mean±SD) (p Conclusion The RMNH leads to a significant increase in exercise tolerance. However, other clinical relevant outcomes such as respiratory muscles endurance, lung function and health-related quality of life were unaffected by RMNH.