Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients With Chronic Fibrotic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Evaluation of the Effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients With Chronic Fibrotic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

The aim is to evaluate exercise capacity, respiratory functions, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, inspiratory muscle endurance, physical activity level, quality of life, fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety, depression and investigate the impact of 24-session pulmonary rehabilitation training on these parameters in patients with chronic fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a syndrome that results in the excessive immune response to inhalation of various antigenic particles in the environment. Patients often experience irreversible physiological disorders and severe dyspnea in the future. Common disorders in these patients are lung function abnormalities, decreased exercise capacity, muscle weakness, oxygen diffusion limitation, impaired quality of life, physical inactivity and fatigue. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation training on exercise capacity, dyspnea, respiratory functions, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, inspiratory muscle endurance, physical activity level, quality of life, fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety, depression in patients with chronic fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The study was planned as a prospective, double-blind, case-control study. At least 30 patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis will be included in the study. The cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program will be included inspiratory muscle training, upper extremity aerobic exercise and progressive resistance training will be performed in the exercise training group during 24 sessions. Alternative upper extremity exercises combined with breathing exercises will be performed in the control group. Functional exercise capacity, respiratory functions, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, inspiratory muscle endurance, physical activity levels, quality of life, fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety and depressions will be evaluated before and after treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinically stable
• Under standard medication
• 18-80 years of age
• Patients diagnosed with chronic fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having another diagnosed respiratory or cardiac problem
• Orthopedic, or neurological psychiatric diseases with a potential to affect functional capacity,
• Having a skeletal-muscular disease that may affect evaluation results
• Uncontrolled asthma, MI (myocardial infarction) in the last 4 weeks, unstable AP (angina pectoris), 2-3. degree block, rapid ventricular or atrial arrhythmias, ventricular aneurysm, acute systemic disorders (ARF (acute renal failure), thyrotoxicosis, infection), cooperation problem, severe aortic stenosis, dissecting aneurysm, uncontrolled CHF (chronic heart failure), uncontrolled hypertension ventricular aneurysm, severe pulmonary hypertension, thrombophlebitis / intracardiac thrombus, recent systemic/pulmonary embolism, acute pericarditis, endocarditis, myocarditis
• Cognitive disorders
• Patients who have contraindications for exercise testing.