Long-term effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on daily life physical activity of patients with stage IV sarcoidosis: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Introduction: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is known to improve exercise tolerance, mood, and quality of life in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The aim of this work was to determine whether PR provides long-term benefits in increasing daily life physical activity in patients with chronic sarcoidosis. Methods: This randomized prospective study (registered ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02044939) of 38 patients with stage IV chronic sarcoidosis was performed between 2012 and 2016. Patients were assigned to participate in a 2-month PR program (n=20) or receive counseling (n=18). Assessments were performed at baseline, 2 months (end of the PR program), 6 months, and 12 months, and included daily life physical activity parameters (measured for 5 consecutive days), exercise tolerance, dyspnea, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality of life. The primary outcome was the 12-month change in time spent in activities above an estimated energy expenditure of 2.5 metabolic equivalents (METs). Secondary daily life physical activity outcomes included number of steps per day, total daily energy expenditure, and total energy expenditure above 2.5 METs. Results: The primary outcome did not differ between the two groups; mean between-group differences were −13.2 min (95% confidence interval [CI]: −76.3 to 49.8) at 6 months and −18.1 min (95% CI: −55.7 to 19.4) at 12 months. Although PR had no effect on secondary daily life physical activity outcomes, it did significantly increase exercise tolerance at 6 and 12 months and decrease the dyspnea score at 6 months and the fatigue score at 12 months. Conclusion: This trial failed to demonstrate a beneficial effect of PR on daily life physical activity in sarcoidosis patients, suggesting that long-term behavioral programs may be necessary to complement PR.