Aerobic versus high-intensity interval exercise for people awaiting lung transplant
Official title: Comparison of the Effects of Continuous Aerobic Exercise Training and High-Intensity Interval Exercise Training on ICF-Based Assessments in Lung Transplant Candidates
Run by Ankara City Hospital Bilkent · NCT07065318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether short bursts of high-intensity interval training or longer moderate aerobic sessions better improve walking distance and daily function for people with interstitial lung disease who are on the lung transplant waiting list.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 64 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Ankara City Hospital Bilkent Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ankara) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 1, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 2027 |
| Study ends | December 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 30, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07065318 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) with interstitial lung disease who are listed for lung transplantation, have dyspnea of ≥2 on the mMRC scale, can ambulate, and are willing and able to attend regular supervised exercise sessions (including those on long-term oxygen) are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People experiencing an acute exacerbation, with a history of exertional syncope, with excluded diagnoses such as sarcoidosis, or who are non-ambulatory or medically unstable are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a randomized, prospective trial that will assign lung transplant candidates with interstitial lung disease to either low-volume high-intensity interval training (LV-HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) over an 8-week supervised program using an ergometer cycle. The trial plans to enroll about 34 participants (17 per group) and will compare changes in exercise capacity (6-minute walk test), pulmonary function (FEV1, FVC, DLCO), comorbidity burden, activities of daily living, and quality of life before and after the intervention. Training intensity and duration differ between groups (30-second high-intensity intervals versus longer-duration moderate efforts), but total program length and supervision are matched. Outcomes include functional measures aligned with ICF domains to capture changes in activity and participation relevant to transplant candidates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the preferred training approach could increase pre-transplant exercise capacity and functional status, which may lower risk and improve outcomes before and after transplantation.
How similar studies have gone: Pulmonary rehabilitation, including both HIIT and moderate continuous aerobic training, has improved exercise capacity in COPD and some ILD populations, but direct randomized comparisons specifically in lung transplant candidates are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Being diagnosed with interstitial lung disease and being followed up at the Ankara City Hospital Chest Diseases Clinic, * Being 18 years of age or older, * Patients who are being followed up with a diagnosis of ILD according to the ATS/ERS 2022 international ILD guideline, * Being on the lung transplant waiting list according to the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation and are being evaluated for listing and are being followed up by the chest diseases department (25-28), * Being willing to participate in the exercise program regularly and volunteering to participate in the study, * Patients who have dyspnea levels of 2 and above according to the Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale and are able to ambulate, * Patients who receive long-term oxygen support will be included. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with a history of exertional syncope, * Patients in acute exacerbation, * Patients with sarcoidosis, * Patients with serious comorbidities that may limit exercise (e.g. musculoskeletal, neurological or cardiovascular problems) will not be included. * Patients with an aortic aneurysm greater than 5.5 cm, * Patients with cardiovascular impediments to exercise during cardiological evaluations prior to pulmonary rehabilitation
Where it's running
-
Ankara Bilkent City Hospital
Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ulas A Ar, MSc
- Email: ulas12ar@gmail.com
- Phone: 90 312-552-6000
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.