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Abstract
Objectives
Evidence on the efficacy of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in the management of ILD is growing. Despite studies reporting benefits, few studies have investigated the long-term effects in such patients, resulting in a call for such research. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week PR programme on exercise tolerance, quality of life and physical activity, 6- and 12-months post completion.
Design
An observational, prospective, quasi experimental type of study.
Setting
Out-Patient Physiotherapy Department.
Participants
60 participants diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease.
Intervention
A 12week PR programme was delivered with outcome measures assessed throughout the programme and at the 28th and 52nd week.
Main Outcome Measures
6-min walking distance test, Dyspnoea Borg Scale, St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score were measured.
Results
Maintenance of effects was noted in SGRQ scores p = 0.005 on completion of the 12week programme, depression scores (p = 0.038 at week 28 and p = 0.008 at week 52) and BODE index resulting in a statistically significant improvement at the 52nd week (p = 0.017). Benefits of in the 6MWT were maintained at 28week but had a statistically significant decline at 52weeks post completion (p = 0.013). Dyspnoea scores increased post completion of the 12week PR programme at both the 28th week (p = 0.008) and 52nd week (p = 0.005).
Conclusion
Improvements were maintained up to 1 year post completion in most outcome measures or else showed benefits till the 52week.
Acknowledgements
All authors wish to thank all patients who participated in this study and made this possible.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).