Abstract
Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) causes short-term improvement in exercise capacity, in IPF, but long-term maintenance is difficult. Nintedanib has been shown to slow the worsening of pulmonary function in IPF. The concomitant use of nintedanib with PR may contribute to the long-term maintenance of PR effects.
Methods: This is a multicenter, randomized, prospective, parallel-group, open-label trial. Patients in the PR group will receive a programmed short-term PR induction, followed by home-based PR maintenance. Patients in the control group will receive usual outpatient care. Patients in both groups will continue to receive nintedanib. The primary endpoint is the change in the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) from baseline to 12-months in the two groups. The main secondary endpoint is the change in endurance exercise time, measured using a bicycle ergometer.
Results: Of the 88 randomized subjects, 74 completed the study (PR group n=38, control group n=36). In the primary-endpoint analysis, the change in 6MWD was -24 m in the PR group and -37 m in the control group (p=0.1502). In the main secondary-endpoint analysis, the change in endurance time was 93 sec in the PR group and -99 sec in the control group (p=0.0032).
Conclusions: A long-term PR program in combination with nintedanib in patients with IPF did not improve 6MWD but did improve endurance exercise time.
Acknowledgment: This study was supported by Boehringer Ingelheim.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, RCT2905.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021
