PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Zeynep Pelin Ugras AU - Burcu Camcioglu AU - Meral Bosnak Güçlü AU - Müserrefe Nur Karadalli AU - Nurdan Köktürk AU - Haluk Türktas TI - Physiological responses to functional exercise capacity in interstitial lung disease patients with acute exacerbations AID - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA3531 DP - 2015 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - PA3531 VI - 46 IP - suppl 59 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3531.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3531.full SO - Eur Respir J2015 Sep 01; 46 AB - Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is characterised by exertional dyspnea and exercise limitation. Oxygen desaturation and breathlessness is seen in stable ILD patients during exercise testing. However,no study investigated the six minute walk test (6MWT) and physiological responses in ILD patients withacute exacerbations. We aimed to compare functional exercise capacity and vital signs in patients withacute exacerbations of ILD with and healthy subjects.Methods: Sixteen ILD patients with acute exacerbations (51.9±13.9 years, 3M/13F) and 16 healthy subjects (44.6±9.7 years, 8M/8F) were included. Demographics were recorded. Pulmonary functions using spirometry, functional exercise capacity using 6MWT and dyspnea using Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnea scale were evaluated.Results: Demographics were similar in groups (p>0.05). Interstitial lung disease patients with acute exacerbations had significantly lower oxygen saturation (p=0.001); higher resting dyspnea (p=0.011) and fatigue (p=0.05) measured before 6MWT; lower 6MWT distance (p<0.001) and oxygen saturation (p=0.01), higher MMRC dyspnea score (p<0.001), respiratory rate (p=0.008), activity dyspnea (p<0.001) and fatigue perception (p<0.001); compared with healthy subjects after 6MWT.Conclusion: Interstitial lung disease patients with acute exacerbations have decreased functional exercise capacity, increased dyspnea and fatigue perception and impaired ventilator responses during 6MWT. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs should include approaches alleviating dyspnea and fatigue; also additional oxygen usage during exercise training in ILD patients with acute exacerbations is advisable.