Effects of mean pulmonary arterial pressure and supplemental oxygen on exercise capacity in IPF patients with exercise-induced hypoxemia

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of supplemental oxygen on exercise capacity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients with exercise-induced hypoxemia and to assess the effect of MPAP on their efficacy. Methods: This trial was randomized crossover design. Fifty-five consecutive IPF patients received the right heart catheterization were assessed for eligibility using room-air 6-min walk test. Subjects showing desaturation with SpO2 of 89% or less were eligible. Patients underwent constant load ergometry tests under each supplemental gas, and endurance time and SpO2 were evaluated. Oxygen and placebo air were provided at 4 L/min intranasally during the test. Subjects were divided into two groups of MPAP ≧ 20 mmHg and MPAP Results: Forty-six patients (Age: 64.1 ± 7.2 years, %FVC: 71.1 ± 19.7 %, %DLco: 45.3 ± 18.7 %) were included in this study. Average MPAP was 19.1 ±5.3. Supplemental oxygen increased endurance time than supplemental placebo air (oxygen: 520.2±309.0 sec vs placebo: 408.5±247.9 sec, p Conclusions: These findings suggest that supplemental oxygen benefits exercise capacity and MPAP did not affect the effect of supplemental oxygen in IPF patients with exercise-induced hypoxemia.