Author(s)

Sameera Peumal Senanayake^1,2, Rathugamage Sithija Priyankara Fernando², Heeraluge Erandie Hasini Perera², Ridmi Shashiprabha Maddumage², Athuraliya Gamacharige Kasuni Neranja², Kathaluwa Liyana Kankanamge Tharini Dilanka Sandharenu²

¹Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Werahara, Sri Lanka.
²School of Sports Sciences, Swansea University, Wales, United Kingdom.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, life-limiting with an average life expectancy of 05 years following the onset of the disease, with no curative treatments. These patients need palliative care and rehabilitation is one of the methods that can be used to improve quality of life (QoL) among these patients. Yet the research conducted to assess benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in terms of improving physical activity and QoL in IPF patients remains limited. Hence this study aims to evaluate the effect of a bespoke pulmonary rehabilitation programme, on the physical, physiological and psychological parameters and improvements of QoL among IPF patients. Eleven (11) subjects with IPF received 6 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation. An interviewer administered quality of life questionnaire, six-minute walking test (6MWT), Incremental bicycle exercise tests were performed, and cardiac and respiratory parameters were assessed pre- and post-rehabilitation. The 6MWT was significantly increased following training (Pre 312.55 ± 89.99; Post, 380.73 ± 59.60). A significant improvement was observed in overall QoL (2.226 ± 0.026), dyspnoea (-0.455 ± 0.004) anxiety (-2.070 ± 0.038), depression (-2.217 ± 0.027) scores. No significant changes were found in the VO₂ max and other cardiopulmonary parameters, while non-significant improvement was seen in SpO₂ at peak exercise from 85.8 - 86.5. Bespoke pulmonary rehabilitation program is beneficial in short term improvement of the functional exercise capacity, dyspnoea and QoL among IPF patients.

IPF, 6MWT, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, QoL, Oxygen Uptake, VO2

Senanayake, S. , Fernando, R. , Perera, H. , Maddumage, R. , Neranja, A. and Sandharenu, K. (2021) Perceived Improvements of Quality of Life (QoL) among Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in Response to a 6-Week Rehabilitation Program. Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases, 11, 27-36. doi: 10.4236/ojrd.2021.112003.