Randomized rehabilitation to improve exercise capacity and HRQoL after lung transplantation

A prospective, randomized rehabilitation program was initiated to improve physical exercise capacity and psychosocial functioning in patients after lung transplantation (LTx) and to evaluate long-term intervention effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). 44 consecutive patients were randomized to either intervention (IG; n=22) or control group (CG; n=22) and were followed with cardiopulmonary exercise testings and HRQoL measurements (SF-36) for 15±3 months after LTx. Patient characteristics did not differ concerning age (IG 47±11/CG 46±9), gender (female IG 9/CG 10), and pulmonary function (IG 2.4±0.9/CG 2.6±0.9l). IG patients received regular psychosocial support and performed a home-based supervised ergometer training program. A total of 2760 training sessions were performed without adverse events. Before intervention no significant differences occurred between IG and CG for HRQoL; neither differences in maximum exercise capacity (in watt) (IG: 68±23/CG: 70±17), nor significant differences in maximum oxygen consumption (in ml/min-1/kg-1) were seen between IG (17±3) and CG (20±5). Following intervention differences in HRQoL between IG and CG were identified for life satisfaction (p