This study was conducted to evaluate whether a pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) is independently associated with survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) undergoing lung transplant (LTx). This quasi-experimental study included 89 patients who underwent LTx due to IPF. Thirty-two completed all 36 sessions in a PRP while on the waiting list for LTx (PRP group), and 53 completed fewer than 36 sessions (controls). Survival after LTx was the main outcome; invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), length of stay (LOS) in intensive care unit (ICU) and in hospital were secondary outcomes. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models were used in survival analyses. Cox regression models showed that the PRP group had a reduced 54.0% (hazard ratio = 0.464, 95% confidence interval 0.222–0.970, p = 0.041) risk of death. A lower number of patients in the PRP group required IMV for more than 24 hours after LTx (9.0% vs. 41.6% p = 0.001). This group also spent a mean of 5 days less in the ICU (p = 0.004) and 5 days less in hospital (p = 0.046). In conclusion, PRP PRP completion halved the risk of cumulative mortality in patients with IPF undergoing unilateral LTx
Potential conflicts of interest. A. M. has been a consultant to Sigma Tau Pharmaceuticals (Pomezia, Italy) and a board member of the Istituto di Ricerche in Biomedicina (Bellinzona, Switzerland) and Efranat Ltd (Rehovot, Israel). A. M. has
This study reinforces the importance of BAL GM testing in lung transplant recipients, particularly to exclude the diagnosis of IA. To minimize the frequency of false-positive results, a higher test cutoff should be applied to BAL samples, in comparison with serum samples.
Two-thirds of our sample with advanced IPF referred to lung transplant successfully attended PR and improved exercise capacity and HRQL, without association with markers of disease severity. No difference was found at baseline compared with subjects who were not able to complete the program.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.