Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Interstitial Lung Disease

Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Interstitial Lung Disease - a Multi-Centre, Single-Blinded Randomised Controlled Trial

La Trobe University, Austin Hospital, Melbourne Australia, Victorian Tuberculosis and Lung Association

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a highly disabling group of conditions including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), acute and chronic interstitial pneumonias, connective tissue diseases and sarcoidosis. People with ILD frequently experience breathlessness on exertion, which limits their ability to undertake daily activities. People with ILD report very poor quality of life due to low levels of physical functioning and vitality, and high levels of breathlessness and fatigue. There are few treatments for ILD and those that are available have limited impact on quality of life. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, which consists of specialised exercise training for people with lung disease, on exercise capacity and quality of life in people with ILD. We hypothesis that exercise training will result in reduced dyspnoea, improved exercise tolerance and enhanced quality of life.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a highly disabling group of conditions including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), acute and chronic interstitial pneumonias, connective tissue diseases and sarcoidosis. People with ILD frequently experience breathlessness on exertion, which limits their ability to undertake daily activities and reduces health-related quality of life.Available treatments for ILD have proved largely ineffective, offering no improvement in survival and demonstrating only limited impact on quality of life. Aims of the Research Evaluate the effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with ILD Determine the physiological response to Pulmonary Rehabilitation in patients with ILD Determine the relationship between the aetiology and severity of ILD and the effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Comparisons: 8 weeks exercise training compared to control group (maximal exercise capacity, functional exercise capacity, dyspnoea, quality of life).

Inclusion Criteria: Ambulant Stable medical therapy Dyspnoea on exertion following maximal treatment Exclusion Criteria: A history of syncope on exertion Too unwell to attend the hospital for exercise training Any other comorbidities which would prevent exercise training Previous Pulmonary Rehabilitation in the last 12 months

Holland AE, Hill CJ, Conron M, Munro P, McDonald CF. Short term improvement in exercise capacity and symptoms following exercise training in interstitial lung disease. Thorax. 2008 Jun;63(6):549-54. doi: 10.1136/thx.2007.088070. Epub 2008 Feb 1.