LAUSR

PR programs improve exercise capacity (EC) in patients (pts) with COPD and ILD, but few studies compare results between both diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PR in EC using 6-min walk test (6MWT) within and between COPD and ILD pts. Outcomes were the change in 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and maximum heart rate (HRmax), and the comparison of these changes between groups according to dyspnoea (modified medical research council dyspnoea scale - mMRC). COPD and ILD pts with mMRC ≥2 who completed an outpatient PR programme in a Portuguese hospital during 2016 were retrospectively selected. Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney’ tests were carried out for comparison of qualitative and quantitative variables. Eighty-one pts were included in the study [COPD n=50 with median (P25;P75) FEV1 of 44% predicted (34;59); ILD n=31 with TLC of 68% predicted (53;82)]. Forty-eight pts showed a clinically significant increase in 6MWD (≥30 meters) at the end of the program with no statistically significant difference between groups (COPD: 52% vs ILD: 71%; p=0.091). Forty-three pts had a reduction in HRmax at the end of the program with no statistically significant difference between groups (58% vs 45%; p=0.260). No statistically significant difference was found when comparing both groups with the same dyspnoea level (mMRC 2: 6MWD p=0.072; HRmax p=0.540; mMRC 3 or 4: 6MWD p=0.247; HRmax p=0.247). This study shows that functional EC and physiological response to exercise training have similar improvements in COPD and ILD pts, considering the same dyspnoea severity, showing benefit of PR in both diseases.