The effectiveness of respiratory training in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a exercise capacity meta-analysis

<bold>Introduction:</bold> The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic disease that consists on a fibrotic phenomenon. The respiratory training can improve the ventilation capacity, the gas exchange, and the function of the respiratory muscles, reducing the dynamic hyperinflation added to the presented dyspnea, and improving the exercise capacity of the IPF patients. <bold>Objective:</bold> The objective of this current review was to evaluate the efficacy of the respiratory training in exercise capacity of the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. <bold>Patients and methods:</bold> A meta-analysis of the studies was performed out to observed the effect of respiratory training interventions versus a control. We carried out a literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct. All studies included exercise capacity as one of the outcomes. <bold>Results:</bold> We included 4 studies, which included 255 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The pooled mean difference showed significant overall effect of the respiratory training (standard mean difference = 35.72, 95% confidence interval = 16.44, 55; p = 0.0003) in exercise capacity (6 min walking test). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> This meta-analysis showed a beneficial effect of respiratory training for improving exercise capacity of the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients.