Physical Capacity in Patients With Bronchiectasis Before and After Rehabilitation Program

Overview

The hypothesis of this study is that the group of patients who will carry out the rehabilitation program associated with respiratory therapy will have higher benefits in physical function, peripheral muscle strength and quality of life compared to the group that will only perform chest physiotherapy. Additionally, there will be a negative correlation between inflammatory mediators and measures of physical ability as well as the magnitude of improvement is lower after treatment in patients with higher baseline levels of inflammation. Furthermore, these patients will be reevaluated in 1 and 3 years, as a cohort, studying if exercise capacity may be a predictor of clinical and functional outcomes.

All patients will have their dyspnea rated according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. The Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and COPD Assessment test (CAT) will also be applied. Spirometry will be performed according to recommendations of the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society. The forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume values in the first second will be compared with those predicted for the Brazilian population. The maximal incremental cycle ergometer test will be carried out on an electromagnetically braked cycle ergometer with gas exchange and ventilatory variables analyzed breath-by-breath. After 2 min at rest and then 2 min pedaling in freewheel, the power (W) will continuously increase in a linear "ramp" pattern (1 to 20 W/min). The incremental treadmill test will be performed to determine aerobic training load. The modified Balke protocol, according to the basal level of physical fitness (a total time increment between eight and 12 minutes). The incremental shuttle walking test will be conducted according to the description of Singh et al. The daily physical activity (DPA) will be assessed with an accelerometer for three days. Blood sample for inflammatory markers measurements will be collected to analyze of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-alpha, using Duo Set ELISA kits from R \& D Systems according to manufacturer's instructions. Muscle strength with one repetition maximum (1RM) will be performed at middle deltoid (MD), biceps brachial (BB) and quadriceps femoris (QF). The following movements will also be evaluated: shoulder abduction, elbow flexion and knee extension. Patients are going to be randomized to pulmonary rehabilitation or conventional physiotherapy program as follow: Pulmonary rehabilitation: 8 week, twice weekly exercise program with aerobic treadmill and lower limb strength training. Conventional program: 8 week, twice weekly conventional program with: L'Expiration Lente Totale Glotte Ouverte en decubitus Latéral (Eltgol), autogenous drainage (AD) and shaker with duration of 30 minutes each. Patients will be reassessed in 1 and 3 years, measuring maximal incremental cycle ergometer test, incremental treadmill test, incremental shuttle walking test, accelerometer and muscle strength. All tests will follow the same patterns as the first assesment. Adicionally, exacerbations, hospitalization and survival in each year will be evaluated.