Efficacy of aerobic physical retraining in a case of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema syndrome: a case report

Table 1 Results of cardiorespiratory and clinical tests before and after a retraining program in a patient with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema

Test	Assessment before retraining program		Assessment after retraining program
Respiratory functional tests	FEV1/FVC	78%	FEV1/FVC	77%
• Spirometry	FEV1	79% of predicted value	FEV1	82% of predicted value
• Spirometry	FVC	73% of predicted value	FVC	75% of predicted value
• Diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide	DLCO	44% of predicted value	DLCO	47% of predicted value
	PaO₂	63.4mmHg	PaO₂	70.4mmHg
Arterial blood gas analysis	PaCO₂	35.6mmHg	PaCO₂	33.6mmHg
on oxygen 2.5L/min	pH	7.46	pH	7.369
Dyspnea scales
• Modified Medical Research Council		3.0		2.0
• Visual Analogue Scale		8.0		5.0
• Borg Scale		9.0		5.0
Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography	PAP	60mmHg	PAP	50mmHg
Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography	Right ventricular hypertrophy		Right ventricular hypertrophy
Physical exercise test
• Respiratory muscle strength	PiMax	40mmHg	PiMax	53mmHg
• Respiratory muscle strength	PeMax	25mmHg	PeMax	60mmHg
Six-minute walk test		90m^a		210m
Geriatric Depression Scale		25/30 severe depression		16/30 mild depression
	Symptoms	77.51	Symptoms	50.18
Quality of life	Physical activities	85.66	Physical activities	62.55
St. George Questionnaire	Impact	70.39	Impact	50.64
St. George Questionnaire	Total score	83.86	Total score	71.54
Long-term oxygen therapy	Flow 2.5L/min for 24 hours		Flow 1.5L/min for 24 hours

^aThe six-minute walk test, before the retraining program, was stopped due to patient breathlessness. DLCO, diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide; FEV 1, Forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC, forced vital capacity; PaO₂, partial arterial pressure of oxygen; PaCO₂, partial pressure of carbon dioxide; PAP, pulmonary artery pressure; PiMax, maximal inspiratory pressure; PeMax, maximal expiratory pressure.

ISSN: 1752-1947