METHODS: We searched five databases (January 1990 to August 2024) using Population: ILD patients; Intervention: PR; Comparison: no PR; Outcomes: exercise capacity (e.g., 6-min walk test [6MWT] and HRQoL (e.g., St George's respiratory questionnaire [SGRQ]); Study type: randomised controlled trials (RCT). We used Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and GRADE to rate the quality of the evidence.
FINDINGS: We identified 11 RCTs (476 ILD patients; 8 countries). 10 studies provided data for exercise capacity (6MWD) and 7 studies for HRQoL (SGRQ). Both 6MWD and SGRQ improved ≥ their respective mínimum clinically-important difference of 45m and 7 units respectively, in studies where PR programme was i) >8 weeks (n = 5) [6MWD: MD 58m, 95 % CI 37 to 79, p n = 5): MD 53.6m, 95 % CI 39 to 68, p n = 2): MD -9.38, 95 % CI -12.93 to -5.84, p n = 2) [6MWD: MD 77m, 95 % CI 45 to 109, p 8 weeks, fully supervised and incorporated HIIT had a better clinical impact on EC and HRQoL.