Evaluation of factors associated with the timing of pulmonary rehabilitation during hospitalisation in patients with interstitial lung disease: a two-centre retrospective study

AbstractPurpose: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is effective in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) in stable condition. However, little is known about PR in clinically unstable inpatients with ILD. This retrospective study aimed at clarifying the clinical characteristics of these patients who have been referred to inpatient PR, particularly focussing on the timing of PR.Materials and methods: We assessed 103 patients diagnosed with ILD who underwent inpatient PR. Outcomes included initiation/termination date of PR, laboratory data, treatment contents, walking ability, and in-hospital mortality. Subjects were divided into two groups at the median of initiation/termination date of PR, and clinical characteristics were compared.Results: The median PR initiation date was 5 days from admission. The group that started PR within 5 days showed significantly high C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, Krebs von den Lungen-6, and use rate of high-flow therapy, and significantly low walking ability bef...