Effectiveness of high-flow nasal cannula on pulmonary rehabilitation in subjects with chronic respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND

The effects of exercise training using both high fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) and high flow oxygen delivered through a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) on exercise capacity in patients with chronic respiratory failure (CRF) receiving long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) are unknown.

METHODS

In this randomized study, 32 patients with CRF receiving LTOT were assigned to undergo 4 weeks of exercise training on a cycle ergometer using an HFNC (flow: 50 L/min) with a FIO2 of 1.0 (HFNC group; n = 16) or ordinary supplemental oxygen via a nasal cannula (flow: 6 L/min) (oxygen group; n = 16). A 6-min walking test and a constant-load test were performed before and after 4 weeks of exercise training.

RESULTS

Following 4 weeks of exercise training, change in the 6-min walking distance was significantly greater in the HFNC than in the oxygen group (55.2 ± 69.6 m vs. -0.5 ± 87.3 m; p = 0.04). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the degree of improvement in the duration of the constant-load exercise test after exercise training.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the effect on daily activities (e.g., walking), exercise training using both high FIO2 and high flow through an HFNC is a potentially superior exercise training modality for patients with CRF receiving LTOT. Clinical Trial Registration - http://www.

CLINICALTRIALS: gov. Unique identifier: NCT02804243.