THE EFFECT OF A COMPREHENSIVE, INTENSIVE INPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM ON LUNG-FUNCTION AND EXERCISE CAPACITY IN PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this investigation was to measu re the effects of a 10- to 14-day comprehensive, intensive hospital tr eatment program on peak exercise capacity, endurance capacity, respira tory function, weight change, and maximum inspiratory and expiratory m outh pressures in patients with cystic fibrosis with a pulmonary exace rbation. Subjects. Fourteen young adults with cystic fibrosis admitted to a hospital for an exacerbation of their pulmonary disease were stu died. Methods. Subjects performed pulmonary function tests, inspirator y and expiratory mouth pressure tests, and stationary bicycle exercise tests at admission and discharge. Comprehensive therapy provided duri ng the hospital admission consisted of intravenous antibiotics, physic al therapy, high-calorie diet, and daily medical review. Results. The patients showed improvements in forced expiratory volume in 1 second ( 46%-55% of predicted values) and forced vital capacity (62%-68% of pre dicted values). Maximum inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures als o improved (118%-131% and 78%-92% of predicted values, respectively). There was a mean weight gain of 2 kg Maximum work capacity on a bicycl e ergometer improved from a mean of 45% to 52% of predicted values The most impressive result was the marked increase in exercise endurance time from a mean of 9.5 minutes on admission to 16.6 minutes at discha rge. Conclusion and Discussion. This study indicates that young adults with cystic fibrosis and an exacerbation of their pulmonary disease o btain measurable benefits from a comprehensive, intensive treatment pr ogram, particularly improvement in their capacity for endurance exerci se [Alison JA, Donnelly PM, Lennon M, et al. The effect of a comprehen sive, intensive inpatient treatment program on lung function and exerc ise capacity in patients with cystic fibrosis.