Short-term improvement in exercise capacity and symptoms following exercise training in interstitial lung disease

¹ La Trobe University and Bayside Health, Melbourne, Australia
² Institute for Breathing and Sleep and Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
³ St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
⁴ Bayside Health, Melbourne, Australia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: a.holland{at}alfred.org.au.

Accepted 21 December 2007

	Abstract

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is characterised by exertional dyspnoea, exercise limitation and reduced quality of life. The role of exercise training in this diverse patient group is unclear. The aims of this study were to establish the safety of exercise training in ILD; its effects on exercise capacity, dyspnoea and quality of life; and whether patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) had similar responses to those with other types of ILD.

Methods: Fifty-seven subjects with ILD (thirty-four IPF) were randomised to receive eight weeks of supervised exercise training or weekly telephone support. The six-minute walk distance (6MWD), incremental exercise test, modified Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea score and Chronic Respiratory Disease questionnaire (CRDQ) were performed at baseline, following intervention and at six months.

Results: Eighty percent of subjects completed the exercise program and no adverse events were recorded. The 6MWD increased following training (mean difference to control 35m, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6-64m). A significant reduction in MRC score was observed (0.7 points, 95% CI 0.1-1.3) along with improvements in dyspnoea (p=0.04) and fatigue (p<0.01) on the CRDQ. There was no change in VO2peak; however exercise training reduced heart rate at maximum workload (p=0.01). There were no significant differences in response between those with and without IPF. After six months there were no differences between the training and control group for any outcome variable.

Conclusions: Exercise training in ILD improves exercise capacity and symptoms in patients with ILD, however these benefits are not sustained six months following intervention. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00168285

Keywords: Lung diseases, interstitial, dyspnoea, exercise therapy