Does Pseudomonas status affect exercise capacity in CF

Introduction: Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) has been recognized as a valuable method in assessing disease burden and exercise capacity among CF patients. Aim: To evaluate differences in CPET, LCI and High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) indices among patients colonized or not with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa; to examine whether exercise testing indices correlate with lung structural damages as reflected by Bhalla score and to check if pseudomonas colonization can predict exercise intolerance. Subjects: Seventy eight (78) children and adults with CF (31 males) mean (range) age 17.08 (6.75; 24.25) performed spirometry, Multiple Breath Washout (MBW) and CPET along with HRCT on the same day during their admission or follow up visit. Results: 78 CF patients (mean FEV1: 83.3% mean LCI: 10.9 and mean VO2peak: 79.1%) were evaluated. 33 were chronically colonized with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, 24 were intermittently colonized whereas 21 were Pseudomonas free. Statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups in: peak oxygen uptake % predicted (VO2peak%) (p Conclusion: Exercise capacity as reflected by peak oxygen uptake is reduced in pseudomonas colonized patients and reflects lung structural damages as shown on HRCT. Pseudomonas colonization could predict exercise limitation among CF patients.