title: Physical Activity and Exertional Desaturation Are Associated with Mortality in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
abstract: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease that manifests in hypoxemia, inactivity, and poor prognosis. This study aimed to assess the prognostic role of physical activity (PA) and exertional desaturation (ED) with mortality in IPF. At baseline, 34 IPF patients (68 (50-81) years) were interviewed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and SpO₂ was assessed pre to post 6-min walking test (∆SpO₂). Patients were prospectively followed up for 40 months. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis determined cut-off points associated with mortality, and Cox proportional hazard ratio (HR) were conducted. Thresholds for increased mortality risk in IPF patients were determined as IPAQ ≤ 417 metabolic equivalent task (METS)-min/week, p = 0.004 (HR; 9.7, CI 95% (1.3-71.9), p = 0.027), and ∆SpO₂ ≥ 10%, p = 0.002, (HR; 23.3, CI 95% (1.5-365), p = 0.025). This study demonstrated a significant association of PA and ED with mortality in IPF patients. The findings emphasize the clinical importance of PA and ED assessments to aid in IPF risk stratification, prognosis prediction, and in providing early appropriate treatments, such as pulmonary rehabilitation, PA consultation, oxygen supplementation, and lung transplantation referral. These results underscore that even low levels of PA corresponding to 100-105 min/week were associated with a reduced mortality risk and better survival in IPF.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel. Baruch.v1981@gmail.com.|Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto 4200-450, Portugal. Baruch.v1981@gmail.com.|Cardiology Division, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System/Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. Baruch.v1981@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Baruch
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vainshelboim
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel. kramerm@clalit.org.il.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel. kramerm@clalit.org.il.
authors.forename: Mordechai Reuven
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel. shimixyz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izhakian
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System/Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. professorricardomoreno@gmail.com.|Faculty of Physical Education, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil. professorricardomoreno@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ricardo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto 4200-450, Portugal. joliveira@fade.up.pt.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliveira
keywords: exercise; inactivity; international physical activity questionnaire; interstitial lung disease; pulmonary rehabilitation