New European guidance sets out how patients with cystic fibrosis should undergo exercise assessments.
Dr Zoe Saynor, from the University of Portsmouth, who has led development of the guidance, says there has been extensive research over the last ten years to develop standard operating procedures that can be used worldwide.
The new guidance has been published in European Respiratory Reviews and was developed by more than 60 experts from around the world.
Dr Saynor said most CF clinics in the UK now offer some exercise testing and training advice – but not all.
Dr Saynor said: “We’ve seen some progress, but nowhere near the amount we should have over a ten-year period.
“Current guidelines recommend every person with cystic fibrosis should have access to an exercise test at least once a year. That doesn’t happen in most parts of the world, including in many clinics here in the UK.
“It’s important that everyone is on the same page when it comes to exercise and activity plans, so that the quality of treatment doesn’t vary depending on where a person is from.”
She added: “The big focus of the project was to change and improve clinical practice across the world, so we’ve been working together collectively over a number of years.
“We wanted to involve colleagues from areas with different medical care systems, and from both low and middle-income countries, to ensure our recommendations had as much stakeholder involvement as possible.
“Our goal is that all people with CF of an appropriate age have access to regular exercise testing to better understand their health and be given individualised exercise advice.”
Guidance and standard operating procedures for functional exercise testing in cystic fibrosis, Zoe L. Saynor et al on behalf of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society Exercise Working Group. European Respiratory Review 9 August 2023
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