RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Predictors of success for pulmonary rehabilitation in patients awaiting lung transplantation
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 1712
VO 44
IS Suppl 58
A1 Rainer Gloeckl
A1 Klaus Kenn
A1 Andreas Soennichsen
A1 Bernd Sczepanski
A1 Sandra Winterkamp
A1 Martina Boensch
A1 Tobias Welte
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/1712.abstract
AB BackgroundAim of this study was to investigate whether pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is also effective in the management of patients awaiting lung transplantation (LTx) and whether there are any predictors of success.MethodsIn an observational clinical pre-post-trial we investigated the effects of an inpatient PR (mean: 34 ±15 days) in 811 LTx candidates. We compared baseline and follow up data of patients with COPD, Alpha-1-Antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), interstitial lung disease (ILD) or cystic fibrosis (CF) with regard to exercise capacity (6MWD) and health related quality of life (HRQL; SF36). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis was performed to detect predictors of PR outcome.Results811 data sets from consecutive patients who were referred to our rehabilitation center prior to LTx could be analyzed (COPD: 360; AATD: 127; ILD: 195; CF: 69; other: 60). Overall, 6MWD increased by 56±58m (p<0.001) at the end of PR. The physical summary component of SF36 improved by 1.9±8.5 points (0-100) (p<0.001), the mental summary component of SF36 by 8.7±13.5 points (p<0.001). Stepwise regression analysis yielded no relevant predictor of success or non-success of PR with regard to age, gender, disease, BMI, 6MWD and HRQL on admission.ConclusionsWe could show that specialized PR in patients with end-stage lung disease awaiting LTx may lead to significant and clinically relevant improvements in exercise capacity and HRQL regardless of the underlying disease or any of the above mentioned parameters. Further studies should evaluate the relevance of such PR effects on the clinical course of patients with end stage lung disease and their outcome after LTx.