Abstract
Background: PR is effective in improving exercise capacity, dyspnoea and quality of life in patients with COPD. The benefits in patients with ILD are less well described.
Methods: The records of 24 patients (15 male) with ILD who had completed PR were compared with age (within 2 years) and MRC score (same score) matched COPD patients (19 male) who had also completed PR within the same setting.
Incremental shuttle walk distance (ISWT), endurance shuttle walk time (ESWT), level of exercise induced desaturation, chronic respiratory disease questionnaire (CRDQ) scores and hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scores were measured at baseline and on completion of the 8 week programme. The mean changes in each group were compared using a paired t-test.
Results: The mean average age of each group was 68 years, with a mean average MRC score of 3.3. The baseline oxygen saturations in both groups was similar.
Differences in outcomes between COPD and ILD groups
Both groups showed improvements in all measured outcomes-most of which were clinically important. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in any of the outcomes. In addition, the level of exercise desaturation after PR was greater in the ILD group (7.7%) compared with the COPD group (3.0%).
Conclusions: This study shows that PR in patients with ILD produces similar outcomes to those seen in COPD. The exercise induced oxygen desaturation seen in patients with ILD is greater.
- © 2011 ERS
