Supervised exercise training improves exercise cardiovascular function in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive and fatal interstitial lung disease associated with cardiovascular impairments which compromise exercise tolerance and worsen prognosis.

AIM

To examine the effect of participating in supervised exercise training (ET) program on cardiovascular function in patients with IPF.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled study.

SETTING

Outpatient hospital.

POPULATION

Thirty-two IPF patients (68±8 years).

METHODS

An ET group (N.=15) participated in a 12-week twice a week 60-minute supervised exercise program while a control group (N.=17) received usual care. At baseline and after the 12-week intervention all patients underwent resting echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) assessments.

RESULTS

The ET group significantly improved peak values of exercise cardiovascular indexes while the control group showed a trend of deterioration in the outcomes. The mean difference between the groups (95% CI) for circulatory power was 638 mLO2/kg/min/mmHg (95% CI: 197-1080) (P=0.006), cardiac power output 0.3 W (95% CI: 0.1 to 0.6) (P=0.041), and stroke work 312 mL/beat/mmHg (95% CI: 52-573) (P=0.02). No significant differences between groups were detected in most echocardiography measures and NT-proBNP. Changes in exercise cardiovascular indexes showed significant correlation with improvements in functional capacity, dyspnea and quality of life among ET group.

CONCLUSIONS

Participation in supervised ET program can improve exercise cardiovascular function in patients with IPF, however resting cardiac evaluations seem to be less sensitive to detect such changes.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

These findings underscore the utility of supervised ET for cardiovascular enhancement which may also be clinically beneficial in reducing the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in IPF patients.