RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with interstitial lung disease – An useful therapeutic option? JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP p4812 VO 38 IS Suppl 55 A1 Patrick Huppmann A1 Bernd Sczepanski A1 Martina Boensch A1 Sandra Winterkamp A1 Ursula Schönheit-Kenn A1 Claus Neurohr A1 Jürgen Behr A1 Klaus Kenn YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4812.abstract AB Introduction: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended for patients with chronic lung diseases by ATS or ERS independent of underlying disease. Data examining the role of PR in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) are limited, so far only a benefit of PR in patients with COPD is widely accepted. Aim of our study is to evaluate an in-patient PR in view of functional status and quality of life in ILD-patients.Methods: 402 ILD-patients (IPF n=202, hypersensitivity pneumonitis n=59, sarcoidosis n=50, rheumatic disease n=24, other n=67) with in-patient PR from 1999 to 2010 in a specialised centre were included. Mean duration of PR was 30±1 days. Pulmonary function, blood-gas analysis, 6-minute-walk test (6MWT), dyspnoea rating with visual-analogue-scale (VAS) and health-related quality of life (SF36-questionnaire) were evaluated on admission and discharge of PR-clinic.Results: 6MWT showed a significant improvement with 46±3m (admission 308±6m, discharge 354±6m, p<0.001). Dyspnoea rating before and after PR was indistinguishable. Lung function testing showed only a marginal improvement (vital capacity +1.3±0.4%, p=0.001). SF-36-questionnaire demonstrated an increase in all eight subscores as well as in physical and mental health summary scores (physical: +1.8±0.5 points, p<0.001; mental: +6.3±0.9 points, p<0.001). Underlying disease did not show any influence on improvement, but patients with signs of pulmonary hypertension had less improvement in 6MWD (36±5m vs. 49±3m, p<0.05).Conclusion: PR has a positive impact on functional status and quality of life in ILD-patients. Therefore PR should be considered as a standard of care for patients with ILD.