Differences in Response to Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are well recognized. However, whether individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) benefit is less clear. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in subjects with IPF and compare their responses with a group of COPD subjects who underwent an identical program. Methods: Forty-five subjects with IPF and 45 ageand Medical Research Council grade-matched COPD subjects were recruited. Subjects completed an 8-week outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program. Dyspnea, peripheral muscle force, exercise capacity (6-min walk distance, 6MWD), activities of daily living, and health status (36-item short-form survey, SF-36) were assessed at baseline, immediately following and at 6 months following completion of the program. Results: Adherence to the program was similar in both groups. Significant improvements in dyspnea, muscle force, exercise capacity and ADL Received: August 24, 2009 Accepted after revision: March 15, 2010 Published online: May 27, 2010 Ryo Kozu, PT, PhD Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Nagasaki University Hospital 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501 (Japan) Tel. +81 95 819 7258, Fax +81 95 819 7259, E-Mail ryokozu @ nagasaki-u.ac.jp © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel 0025–7931/11/0813–0196$38.00/0 Accessible online at: www.karger.com/res D ow nl oa de d by : 54 .7 0. 40 .1 1 11 /1 9/ 20 17 1 0: 11 :0 2 A M