Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on dyspnea and functional capacity on waiting list for lung transplantation: According to obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been shown to be effective on exercise capacity and dyspnea in lung transplantation (LTx) candidates. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of PR and to compare the outcomes in LTx candidates with obstructive and restrictive lung diseases.METHODS: Between January 2013 and May 2018, medical data of 86 patients who were on the waiting list for LTx were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups based on the diagnosis as obstructive patients (Group 1) and restrictive patients (Group 2). Six-minute walking test (6MWT), the Borg scale, and the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scores were analyzed.RESULTS: A total of 65 patients completed the 8-week PR protocol (n = 42 in Group 1 and n = 23 in Group 2). Irrespective of the initial diagnosis, there was a significant (P