The recommendation for pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is weak with low-quality evidence. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate short-term PR effects and their maintenance after a 3-month follow-up. Fifty-four IPF patients were randomized into a group receiving a 3-week comprehensive, inpatient PR (n = 34, FVC 74 +/- 19% pred) or usual care (UC) (n = 17, FVC 72 +/- 20%pred). Outcomes were measured at baseline (T1), after intervention (T2), and 3 months after T2 (T3). A 6-min walk distance (6MWD) was used as the primary outcome and chronic respiratory disease questionnaire (CRQ) scores as the secondary outcome. Change in 6MWD from T1 to T2 (delta 61 m, 95% CI 18.5 to 102.4, p = 0.006) but not from T1 to T3 (delta 26 m, 95% CI 8.0 to 61.5, p = 0.16) differed significantly between groups. Higher baseline FVC and higher anxiety symptoms were significant predictors of better short-term 6MWD improvements. For the change in CRQ total score, a significant between-group difference from T1 to T2 (delta 3.0 pts, 95% CI 0.7 to 5.3, p = 0.01) and from T1 to T3 (delta 3.5 pts, 95% CI 1.5 to 5.4, p = 0.001) was found in favour of the PR group. To conclude, in addition to the short-term benefits, inpatient PR is effective at inducing medium-term quality of life improvements in IPF. PR in the early stages of the disease seems to provoke the best benefits.

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