Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in interstitial lung diseases and the value of ventilatory efficiency

What is it about?

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a group of pulmonary disorders that affect lung framework and architecture, compromising gas exchange and blood oxygenation. The most common resulting symptom is exertional breathlessness. ILDs are characterised by reduced lung volumes in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) at rest, and abnormal exercise adaptation. This narrative literature review discuss the informations provided by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in patients with ILDs. CPET is a valuable tool to assist in diagnosis of the precise underlying disease, determine the presence of associated comorbidities, objectively evaluate functional capacity, determine symptom severity, accurately prescribe exercise training and monitor disease progression or therapeutic response, but also generate valuable prognostic information and optimise the management of these patients.

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Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash