Short Term Effect of Supervised Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program after Lung Transplantation Surgery on Quality of Life and Exercise Capacity; the First Report of Iranian Experience

Background: The role of exercise based rehabilitation following lung transplantation (LT) is gradually being recognized. This is the first investigation in pulmonary rehabilitation after LT in Iran.

Materials and Methods: A prospective before-and-after trial was designed in the tertiary referral center of Masih Daneshvari hospital. Measurements before and after intervention included Body Mass Index (BMI), Health Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) score using St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), functional exercise capacity and desaturation during six minute walking test (6MWT). Pulmonary rehabilitation sessions included a series of 1 to 1.5 hours of education and exercise training that were carried out three times in a week continued for eight weeks.

Results: A total number of 16 subjects {men (n=10), female (n=6)} were studied (mean age: 36.8 ± 12.5 years). 6MWT distances before and after intervention were 324 ± 139.7 m and 418.9 ± 133.4 m respectively (p<0.001). Oxygen desaturations before and after intervention were 5.08 ± 4.31 and 4.08 ± 2.8 percent respectively (p=0.053). The SGRQ scores before and after intervention were 58.15 ± 16.45 and 34.78 ± 13.93 respectively (p<0.001). BMI before and after intervention were 19.12 ± 6.42 and 20.89 ± 6.17 respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Rehabilitation program including supervised exercise after successful LT could improve functional exercise capacity, HRQOL scores and BMI.

Author(s): Shahram Kharabian Masouleh

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