Respiratory Rehabilitation in Interstitial Lung Diseases

Abstract

Introduction: The interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are mainly characterized by: dry cough, dyspnea and exercise desaturation. These symptoms are due, among other causes, to the lack of pulmonary distensibility and to the alteration of the gas exchange. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the effects that a respiratory rehabilitation program (RRP) has in a group of patients with ILD.Method: prospective cohort study that was approved by the Maule Health Service Ethics Committee and all Patients signed an informed consent, which were 10 (3 men, 7 women), age: 72.4±7.9 years with diagnosis of ILD, specifically 7 with usual interstitial pneumonia(UIP), of which three are associated with rheumatoid arthritis(RA), 3 to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) and 1 to chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis(CHP), 2 with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and 1 cryptogenic organizing pneumonia(COP), which were subjected to a RRP based on aerobic training of the respiratory and peripheral musculature, during 36 sessions of 60 minutes each, 3 times a week. The measured variables pre and post training were: body mass index(BMI), forced vital capacity(FVC), distance walked through the six minute walking test(6MWT), dyspnea through the modified scale of the medical research council(MMRC), strength of the inspiratory musculature through the maximal inspiratory pressure(MIP), initial saturation of oxygen(ISO2), final saturation of oxygen(FSO2), desaturation of oxygen(DO2) measured with pulse oximetry, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide(DLCO) and quality of life through Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The statistical analysis was Carried Out with the program SPSS version 23.Results: significant changes (p<0.05) in: FVC, 6MWT, mMRC, MIP, and SGRQ. Non-significant changes (p˃0.05) in: BMI, ISO2, FSO2, DO2, and DLCO. Conclusion: our RRP improved lung function, exercise capacity, dyspnea, respiratory muscle strength and quality of life of the subjects intervened.