Effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on exercising tolerance in patients with advanced lung disease in waiting list for lung transplant (original) (raw)

2015, Revista Médica de Minas Gerais

Introduction: patients with advanced lung disease (DPA) exhibit reduced tolerance to an effort, dyspnea, and fatigue. Pulmonary rehabilitation (RP) aims to improve exercising tolerance, controlling symptoms, minimize complications in the pulmonary disease, and improve the quality of life. Objective: to evaluate the effect of RP on exercise capacity, according to the distance traveled in the six-minute walk test (TC6M), in patients with DPA on the waiting list for lung transplantation. Methodology: patients on the waiting list for lung transplantation, referred to RP in the General Hospital of the Federal University of Minas Gerais were submitted to the TC6M, at the beginning and end of RP, and the degree of dyspnea was assessed using the Borg scale. The data were presented as mean and standard deviation of absolute values and compared using the Student's t-test. The p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: between January of 2011 and December of 2012, 17 patients completed the RP. The average age was 42 ± 12 years, 65% were females, the peripheral oxygen saturation on admission was 83 ± 17%, and 35% used oxygen 24 hours/day. Seven patients (41%) presented DPOC, six (35%) had pulmonary fibrosis, and four (24%) other DPA. There was a significant improvement in the distance walked in the TC6M at the end of RP (314 ± 131 m versus 427 ± 111 m; p = 0.0016), with an average increase of 118 m. Conclusion: the RP had a positive impact on the exercise capacity of patients on the waiting list for lung transplantation.