Impact of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life and functional capacity in patients on waiting lists for lung transplantation

• Published in: Jornal brasileiro de pneumologia 2013-06, Vol.39 (3), p.349-356
• Main Authors: Florian, Juliessa, Rubin, Adalberto, Mattiello, Rita, Fontoura, Fabrício Farias da, Camargo, José de Jesus Peixoto, Teixeira, Paulo Jose Zimermann
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• Subjects: Adult; Breathing Exercises; Exercicio; Exercise Therapy - methods; Exercise Tolerance; Female; Humans; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - physiopathology; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - rehabilitation; Lung Diseases - physiopathology; Lung Diseases - rehabilitation; Lung Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Prospective Studies; Pulmonary Emphysema - physiopathology; Pulmonary Emphysema - rehabilitation; Qualidade de vida; Quality of Life; Reabilitacao; Respiratory Function Tests; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; Statistics, Nonparametric; Tolerancia ao exercicio; Transplante de pulmao; Waiting Lists
• ISSN: 1806-3713; 1806-3756; 1806-3756; 1806-3713
• DOI: 10.1590/S1806-37132013000300012

To investigate the impact of a pulmonary rehabilitation program on the functional capacity and on the quality of life of patients on waiting lists for lung transplantation. Patients on lung transplant waiting lists were referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation program consisting of 36 sessions. Before and after the program, participating patients were evaluated with the six-minute walk test and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). The pulmonary rehabilitation program involved muscle strengthening exercises, aerobic training, clinical evaluation, psychiatric evaluation, nutritional counseling, social assistance, and educational lectures. Of the 112 patients initially referred to the program, 58 completed it. The mean age of the participants was 46 ± 14 years, and females accounted for 52%. Of those 58 patients, 37 (47%) had pulmonary fibrosis, 13 (22%) had pulmonary emphysema, and 18 (31%) had other types of advanced lung disease. The six-minute walk distance was significantly greater after the program than before (439 ± 114 m vs. 367 ± 136 m, p = 0.001), the mean increase being 72 m. There were significant point increases in the scores on the following SF-36 domains: physical functioning, up 22 (p = 0.001), role-physical, up 10 (p = 0.045); vitality, up 10 (p < 0.001); social functioning, up 15 (p = 0.001); and mental health, up 8 (p = 0.001). Pulmonary rehabilitation had a positive impact on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients on lung transplant waiting lists.