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The role of supplemental oxygen during submaximal exercise in patients with cystic fibrosis

Dept of Respiratory Medicine and National Referral Centre for Adult Cystic Fibrosis, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland

CORRESPONDENCE: C.G. Gallagher, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland. Fax: 353 12094989. E-mail: v.hearn@st-vincent.ie

Keywords: cystic fibrosis, oxygen, submaximal exercise

Received: April 11, 2001
Accepted February 25, 2002

This study was supported by the Health Research Board and the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust. E.F. McKone is supported by a research fellowship from the Irish Lung Association.

Repeated bouts of submaximal exercise are an important part of most pulmonary rehabilitation programmes. Patients with moderate-to-severe cystic fibrosis (CF) often demonstrate oxygen desaturation during submaximal exercise, which may limit their ability to participate in these programmes. This study examines whether arterial desaturation contributes to submaximal exercise limitation by testing whether supplemental O₂ improves submaximal exercise capacity.

Eight patients with CF (mean forced expiratory volume in one second 41% predicted) each underwent two submaximal exercise tests on a bicycle ergometer at 80% of maximal workload. The two tests were identical except for the addition of supplemental O₂ (inspiratory O₂ fraction 39%) during one of the tests.

Exercise duration was significantly longer in the supplemental O₂ study versus control (673±63 s versus 835±99 s). Arterial O₂ saturation was also higher in the supplemental O₂ study than the control exercise test (96±0.3% versus 86±1.5%). There was no statistical difference at end exercise between O₂ consumption, minute ventilation and heart rate. There was a significant relationship between improvement in exercise capacity and the amount of desaturation during the control exercise test.

Results indicate that supplemental oxygen improves submaximal exercise capacity in patients with moderate-to-severe cystic fibrosis. Oxygen therapy may be an important intervention to improve participation and maximise the benefits of pulmonary exercise rehabilitation programmes.

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