Effects of Inpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Frailty in Patients After Lung-Transplantation

Frailty is closely linked to the success of lung transplantations (LTx) (1,2). Studies have shown that frailty causes a diminished physical performance in candidates for LTx and an increased 30 day rate of re-hospitalization after surgery. Furthermore, frailty is associated with a higher one-year-mortality rate after LTx in frail compared to non-frail patients (1,3,4). Some evidence that frailty in LTx-candidates can be decreased by a suitable rehabilitation program suggests that improving the frailty status in post-LTx patients can be a further strategy to contribute to an overall success in LTx. However, at the moment these possible benefits are not investigated yet. Therefore the aim of this study is to observe the effect of a three-week inpatient rehabilitation on frailty in patients after LTx.