Pulmonary rehabilitation in interstitial lung disease: benefits and predictors of response.
BACKGROUND
Data examining the role of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in interstitial lung disease (ILD) are limited. We tested the hypothesis that PR can improve functional status and dyspnea in a large group of patients with ILD, and that certain baseline patient variables can predict this improvement.


METHODS
Data from patients who were referred to PR with a diagnosis of ILD were included. Baseline and post-PR variables were recorded, and changes in 6-min walk test (6MWT) distance and dyspnea were evaluated. The impact of baseline variables on change in 6MWT distance and dyspnea were analyzed.


RESULTS
A statistically significant difference was seen in both the change in Borg score and 6MWT distance after PR (p < 0.0001). These changes were consistent with previously established clinically significant differences. Baseline 6MWT distance was a significant predictor of change in 6MWT distance (p < 0.0001), with increasing baseline 6MWT distance predicting a smaller improvement after PR.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that PR should be considered as a standard of care for patients with ILD.
Ferreira
Alicia
A
Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
Garvey
Chris
C
Department of Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Seton Medical Center Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Daly City, CA.
Connors
Gerilynn L
GL
INOVA Fairfax Hospital Lung Health Services, Falls Church, VA.
Hilling
Lana
L
John Muir Health Lung Health Services, Concord, CA.
Rigler
Julia
J
Department of Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Seton Medical Center Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Daly City, CA.
Farrell
Susan
S
INOVA Fairfax Hospital Lung Health Services, Falls Church, VA.
Cayou
Cindy
C
John Muir Health Lung Health Services, Concord, CA.
Shariat
Cyrus
C
Department of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY.
Collard
Harold R
HR
Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Electronic address: hal.collard@ucsf.edu.
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology