*Purpose: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) prior lung transplantation (LT) has been effective in reducing post transplantation complications. However, few studies have examined the effect of pre-lung transplantation pulmonary rehabilitation on functional capacity and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pre-lung transplantation pulmonary rehabilitation on the functional capacity and Quality of life in patients awaiting LT surgery.

*Methods: A single center prospective cohort interventional study recruited patients diagnosed with end stage lung disease and listed for LT. All patients underwent physical examination, functional capacity and quality of life assessment prior to enrollment. All patients received a structured exercise tailored for each patient according to the guidelines from American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation lasting for 8 weeks.Functional capacity was determined by a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Timed-Up and Go (TUG) test. Quality of life was assessed by the Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36).All outcomes were recorded pre- and two months post-PR intervention program.

*Results: Twenty patients completed the PR program with mean (SD) age 58 (9) year and BMI was 22.96 (4.76) Kg/m2. The 6MWT increased from 170 (37) m to 214 (47) m with mean difference of 44 (17) m, the TUG decreased from 10.63 (0.5) s to 8.84 (0.3) s with mean difference of 1.79 (0.45) s. The total score of SF-36 increased from 35.56 (11) % to 53.77 (16)%.

*Conclusions: A two month PR program for patients awaiting lung transplantation significantly improved functional capacity and quality of life.

« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress