Effects and Usefulness of Inspiratory Muscle Training Load in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer with Dyspnea

Abstract

Background Patients with advanced lung cancer tend to develop dyspnea and the usefulness of non-drug therapy. On the contrary, inspiratory muscle training (IMT) exerts a relatively lower burden on patients; however, its usefulness has not been demonstrated. This study aimed to clarify the effects and usefulness of IMT in patients with advanced lung cancer with dyspnea. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 46 patients with advanced lung cancer hospitalized for medical treatment. The participants were categorized into the exercise therapy group, which served as control, and the IMT load + exercise therapy group, who performed IMT at a load of 30–40% of the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) in addition to exercise therapy. Results No patient dropped out owing to IMT load. The MIP variations had a significant interaction between group and period and that those in the IMT load + exercise therapy group increased, with significant differences between baseline and week 1, between week 1 and week 2, as well as between baseline and week 2. The analysis also demonstrated that the variations of dyspnea at rest and on exertion had a significant interaction between group and period and that those in the IMT load + exercise therapy group decreased with significant differences between baseline and week 1 as well as between baseline and week 2. Conclusions This study revealed that IMT load significantly improved MIP and dyspnea in patients with advanced lung cancer. In addition, the persistence rate of IMT in these patients was high.