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Post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) refers to persistent respiratory symptoms, functional limitation, and/or structural or physiological abnormalities after completion of anti-tuberculosis treatment. These consequences can reduce exercise capacity and quality of life. This randomized controlled study will evaluate whether an individualized pulmonary rehabilitation program provides greater and more sustained improvement than standard care in adults with PTLD. Participants will be allocated in a 1:1 ratio to an 8-week supervised pulmonary rehabilitation program plus standard care or to standard care alone. Assessments will be performed at baseline (T0), immediately after the 8-week program (T1), and 3 months after program completion (T2; Week 20). The primary outcome will be the change in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire total score from baseline to Week 20. Secondary outcomes will include exercise capacity, mobility, dyspnea, perceived exertion, additional quality-of-life measures, blood-cell-derived inflammatory indices, adherence, and adverse events.
Persistent impairment after successfully treated pulmonary tuberculosis is increasingly recognized as an important source of chronic respiratory morbidity. Patients may experience dyspnea, exercise intolerance, fatigue, impaired mobility, and reduced health-related quality of life. Preliminary retrospective data from 37 patients suggested that structured pulmonary rehabilitation may improve the 6-minute walk distance, Timed Up and Go performance, dyspnea, perceived exertion, quality of life, and selected inflammatory indices. However, retrospective allocation and the absence of a longer follow-up limit causal interpretation.
The present study is designed as a prospective, assessor-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. It will assess both the immediate response to an individualized rehabilitation program and the maintenance of benefit three months after the supervised program has ended. The intervention combines aerobic training, resistance training, breathing exercises, education, and individualized symptom-management strategies. The control group will receive usual post-tuberculosis medical care and general physical-activity advice without a structured supervised pulmonary rehabilitation program during the study period.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individualized Pulmonary Rehabilitation Plus Standard Care | Experimental | Participants assigned to the experimental arm will receive an 8-week individualized pulmonary rehabilitation program in addition to standard post-tuberculosis medical care. The program will include three supervised sessions per week, each lasting approximately 60 minutes, consisting of aerobic training, resistance exercises, breathing exercises, education, symptom-management strategies, and an individualized home exercise program. Outcome assessments will be performed at baseline, immediately after the 8-week intervention, and three months after completion of the rehabilitation program. |
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| Standard Post-Tuberculosis Care | Active Comparator | Participants assigned to the control arm will receive standard post-tuberculosis medical care, including routine clinical follow-up, management of respiratory symptoms and comorbidities, and general recommendations regarding physical activity. Participants in this arm will not receive a structured or supervised pulmonary rehabilitation program during the 20-week study period. Outcome assessments will be performed at baseline, at Week 8, and at Week 20. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individualized Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program | Behavioral | The intervention consists of an 8-week individualized outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program, delivered through three supervised sessions per week, with each session lasting approximately 60 minutes. Each session will include: 5-10 minutes of warm-up and mobility exercises; 20-30 minutes of individualized aerobic training, such as walking, treadmill exercise, or cycle ergometry; resistance exercises targeting the major upper- and lower-limb muscle groups; breathing exercises, including diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lip breathing, and thoracic expansion exercises; airway-clearance techniques when clinically indicated; education regarding symptom monitoring, energy conservation, physical activity, treatment adherence, and healthy lifestyle; an individualized home exercise program on non-supervised days. Exercise intensity and progression will be individualized according to baseline functional capacity, symptoms, Borg CR10 score, heart rate, oxygen saturation, comorbidities, and |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change From Baseline in EUROHIS-QOL-8 Total Score | Generic quality of life will be assessed using the EUROHIS-QOL-8 questionnaire. The questionnaire contains eight items scored from 1 to 5. The total score ranges from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating better quality of life. A positive change indicates improvement. | Baseline, Week 8, and Week 20. |
| Change From Baseline in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire Total Score at Week 20 | Respiratory health-related quality of life will be assessed using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater impairment. The outcome will be calculated as the Week 20 score minus the baseline score. A negative change indicates an improvement in respiratory health-related quality of life. | Baseline to Week 20, corresponding to three months after completion of the 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation program. |
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change From Baseline in Six-Minute Walk Distance | Functional exercise capacity will be assessed using the 6-Minute Walk Test. The total distance walked in six minutes will be recorded in meters. A greater walking distance indicates better functional exercise capacity. | Baseline, Week 8, and Week 20 |
| Change From Baseline in Timed Up and Go Test Performance |
Inclusion Criteria:
• Age 18 years or older.
Exclusion Criteria:
• Suspected or confirmed active, recurrent, or drug-resistant tuberculosis requiring treatment or isolation.
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAGDALENA-RODICA TRAISTARU, Professor, PhD | Contact | +40723766778 | rodica.traistaru@umfcv.ro |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D014376 | Tuberculosis |
| D004417 | Dyspnea |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009164 | Mycobacterium Infections |
| D000193 | Actinomycetales Infections |
| D016908 | Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections |
| D001424 | Bacterial Infections |
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| Standard Post-Tuberculosis Care | Other | Standard Post-Tuberculosis Care |
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Functional mobility will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go test. The time required for the participant to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, return to the chair, and sit down will be recorded in seconds. A shorter completion time indicates better functional mobility. |
| Baseline, Week 8, and Week 20. |
| Change From Baseline in Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Grade | Dyspnea during daily activities will be assessed using the modified Medical Research Council scale. Scores range from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater dyspnea-related functional limitation. A reduction in score indicates improvement. | Baseline, Week 8, and Week 20. |
| D001423 | Bacterial Infections and Mycoses |
| D007239 | Infections |
| D012120 | Respiration Disorders |
| D012140 | Respiratory Tract Diseases |
| D012818 | Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |