Longitudinal changes in exercise capacity and spirometry in interstitial lung disease

Abstract

Traditional spirometry measures of forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) are used in interstitial lung disease (ILD) for prognostic monitoring and evaluating treatment efficacy. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has been proposed as an alternative to spirometry, although it is unknown how the primary outcome of CPET – peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) – changes relative to both FVC and DLCO.