Effectiveness Of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Based On An Exercise Program In Patients With Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases

Effectiveness of Pulmonary rehabilitation based on an exercise program in patients with Diffuse interstitial lung diseases Diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DILD) include impaired gas exchange and pulmonary circulation, ventilatory limitation, and peripheral muscle dysfunction and are characterized by progressive dyspnea, limitation of physical exercise, and impaired quality of life. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a pulmonary rehabilitation program based on physical training in patients with DILD to improve dyspnea, tolerance to physical exertion, and quality of life. METHODS: Retrospective study in 109 patients diagnosed with DILD, who participated in a pulmonary rehabilitation program between 2021 and 2022. The physical exercise prescription considered a frequency of 2 times per week of aerobic training on a treadmill and/or cycle ergometer (3:1 modality; 3 min 60% - 1 min 80% of the maximum load for 12 weeks, then 2:1 for 12 weeks) and localized strength training in large muscle groups with an overload of 1 to 5 kg. It is for 90 min (45 min aerobic, 30 min strength, and 15 min flexibility) for three months. In addition, patient education was provided. Dyspnea was measured by the modified scale of the Medical Research Council (MRC), exercise tolerance by distance covered in the 6-minute walk test (TM6), and quality of life with the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The changes were analyzed with Student's t or Wilcoxon, according to the data distribution with the STATA16 software. RESULTS: Patients who adhere to at least 75% of the program (n = 87) had positive changes in mMRC (p < 0.0001). The distance covered in TM6 increased by 39.8 to 53.6 m (p < 0.0001) and showed changes in quality of life in the four areas of the SGRQ: symptoms (p < 0.0001), activity (p < 0.0001), impact (p < 0.0001) and total (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The pulmonary rehabilitation program based on physical training in patients with DILD effectively improves dyspnea, tolerance to physical exertion, and quality of life.