Functional performance tests in interstitial lung disease: Impairment and measurement properties

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by progressive lung function decline.
• Limited data exists on the functional performance and measurement properties of tests in IPF patients.
• Understanding functional impairment is crucial for managing IPF.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate functional performance in individuals with IPF compared to healthy controls.
• To assess the validity and reliability of various functional performance tests in IPF.
• To identify the most appropriate tests for functional assessment in IPF.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study comparing 40 IPF patients and 36 healthy individuals.
• Assessed pulmonary function, muscle strength (handgrip, quadriceps), and exercise capacity (6-minute walk test).
• Functional tests included Timed-Up-and-Go (usual and fast gait), 4-meter gait speed, Sit-to-Stand tests (30s, 1min, 5-rep), and SPPB.

Main Results:

• IPF patients showed significantly worse functional performance in most tests compared to controls.
• Validity criteria were met for Timed-Up-and-Go (usual and fast), 4-meter gait speed, and 5-repetition Sit-to-Stand.
• High intra- and inter-rater reliability was observed for most tests, except 4-meter gait speed and SPPB.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with IPF demonstrate reduced functional performance across multiple tests.
• Timed-Up-and-Go (usual and fast gait) and 5-repetition Sit-to-Stand tests exhibit good validity and reliability.
• These tests are recommended for evaluating functional performance in IPF patients.