Exercise Prescription in Lung-Transplanted Cystic Fibrosis Adults

Background: Physical exercise intervention in cystic fibrosis (CF) is of recent interest; however, no specific method to detect improvements in body composition and cardiovascular performance after transplantation has been investigated. This study aims to verify the feasibility of an exercise prescription program in CF lung-transplanted patients compared to other solid organ transplanted recipients (OLT) in terms of cardio-respiratory and body composition performance. Methods: The two groups, trained with a moderate intensity program, were evaluated by body composition analysis and a cardiopulmonary test (CPET) and compared to healthy subjects (HS). Results: A total of 10 CF, 10 OLT, and 10 HS were included. BMI was significantly lower in the CF group with lower total and appendicular free fat mass (p = 0.01). The CF group also showed significantly lower functional and cardiovascular parameters in the CPET test (peak VO2, VOR/HR) compared to the OLT and HS groups, but similar ventilatory response (VE/VCO2 slope) to OLT. In the CF group, free fat mass and functional parameters (peak VO2 and VO2/HR) were negatively correlated (r = -0.51 and -0.52, respectively). Conclusions: CF patients would benefit from an individualized exercise prescription program to improve all cardiovascular parameters, overall body composition, and, consequently, related respiratory parameters. Peak VO2 and body composition should be largely used to plan exercise prescription program among transplanted CF.