Inspiratory muscle training added to pulmonary rehabilitation for people with RA-related interstitial lung disease

Investigation of the Effects of Standard Rehabilitation Program and Inspiratory Muscle Training on lncRNA HOTAIR Expression in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

NA · Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi · NCT07320846

This project will test whether adding inspiratory muscle training to standard pulmonary rehabilitation helps people with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease breathe easier, walk farther, gain muscle strength, feel better psychologically, and change levels of certain long noncoding RNAs.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment39 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
SponsorSaglik Bilimleri Universitesi (other)
Locations1 site (Istanbul, Turkey)
Trial IDNCT07320846 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease will participate in a standard pulmonary rehabilitation program, with some receiving added resistive threshold inspiratory muscle training and others receiving standard care or no added intervention. Clinical outcomes including exercise capacity, dyspnea, inspiratory muscle strength, quality of life, and psychological state will be measured before and after the intervention. Blood samples will be collected to measure changes in long noncoding RNA expression related to the rehabilitation interventions. The design aims to link functional rehabilitation gains with underlying molecular changes to see if added inspiratory muscle training provides extra benefit.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with rheumatoid arthritis (diagnosed >2 years) who have documented lung involvement, a DAS28 score below 5.1, BMI ≤30, and who have not participated in a rehabilitation program in the past 6 months.

Not a fit: Patients with severe organ failure, uncontrolled diabetes or heart disease, recent acute coronary syndrome, active infection, pregnancy, orthopedic conditions that limit participation, or BMI >30 are unlikely to benefit or will be excluded.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, adding inspiratory muscle training could improve breathing, exercise tolerance, muscle strength, and quality of life for people with RA-associated ILD and identify molecular markers of response.

How similar studies have performed: Inspiratory muscle training has shown benefits for strength, dyspnea, and exercise capacity in COPD and some ILD populations, but applying it specifically to RA-associated ILD and measuring long noncoding RNA changes is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed with RA according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 classification criteria
* Duration of diagnosis greater than 2 years
* Disease activity with a DAS28 score below 5.1
* Voluntary participation in the study
* Presence of lung involvement

Exclusion Criteria:

* Having orthopedic deformities that may affect the treatment program
* Pregnancy
* Uncontrolled diabetes or heart disease
* Participation in a rehabilitation program within the last 6 months
* Body Mass Index (BMI) \> 30
* Patients with severe organ failure
* Recent acute coronary syndrome
* Presence of active infection

Where this trial is running

Istanbul, Turkey

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Exercise, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Interstitial Lung Disease, Long Noncoding RNA, Inspiratory Muscle Training, Rheumatoid Arthritis, inspiratory muscle training, long noncoding RNA

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.