Thoracoabdominal asynchrony associates with exercise intolerance in fibrotic interstitial lung diseases

Author(s)

Santana, Pauliane Vieira ^{[1, 2]} ; Cardenas, Leticia Zumpano ^{[1, 2]} ; Ferreira, Jeferson George ^{[1, 2]} ; de Carvalho, Carlos Roberto Ribeiro ^[2] ; de Albuquerque, Andre Luis Pereira ^{[2, 3]} ; Caruso, Pedro ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] AC Camargo Canc Ctr, Intens Care Unit, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin HCFMUSP, Pulm Div, Heart Inst InCor, R Abilio Soares 666, BR-04005002 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Hosp Sirio Libanes, Sirio Libanes Teaching & Res Inst, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Respirology; v. 26, n. 7 APR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Background and objective The precise coordination of respiratory muscles during exercise minimizes work of breathing and avoids exercise intolerance. Fibrotic interstitial lung disease (f-ILD) patients are exercise-intolerant. We assessed whether respiratory muscle incoordination and thoracoabdominal asynchrony (TAA) occur in f-ILD during exercise, and their relationship with pulmonary function and exercise performance. Methods We compared breathing pattern, respiratory mechanics, TAA and respiratory muscle recruitment in 31 f-ILD patients and 31 healthy subjects at rest and during incremental cycle exercise. TAA was defined as phase angle (PhAng) >20 degrees. Results During exercise, when compared with controls, f-ILD patients presented increased and early recruitment of inspiratory rib cage muscle (p < 0.05), and an increase in PhAng, indicating TAA. TAA was more frequent in f-ILD patients than in controls, both at 50% of the maximum workload (42.3% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.01) and at the peak (53.8% vs. 23%, p = 0.02). Compared with f-ILD patients without TAA, f-ILD patients with TAA had lower lung volumes (forced vital capacity, p < 0.01), greater dyspnoea (Medical Research Council > 2 in 64.3%, p = 0.02), worse exercise performance (lower maximal work rate % predicted, p = 0.03; lower tidal volume, p = 0.03; greater desaturation and dyspnoea, p < 0.01) and presented higher oesophageal inspiratory pressures with lower gastric inspiratory pressures and higher recruitment of scalene (p < 0.05). Conclusion Exercise induces TAA and higher recruitment of inspiratory accessory muscle in ILD patients. TAA during exercise occurred in more severely restricted ILD patients and was associated with exertional dyspnoea, desaturation and limited exercise performance. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/18404-8 - Evaluation of ins and expiratory muscles in respiratory diseases
• Grantee: Pauliane Vieira Santana
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)