Overview
- The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the effects of pulmonary
rehabilitation and airway clearance education in adults with nontuberculous
mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does pulmonary rehabilitation and airway clearance training improve lung function, symptom relief, and quality of life in patients with NTM-PD?
- Does this non-pharmacological intervention contribute to better sputum culture conversion rates?
- Participants will:
- Undergo pulmonary rehabilitation and airway clearance training over an 8-week period (biweekly sessions).
- Receive evaluations at baseline, during the intervention, and follow-up assessments at 2 months, 6 months, and final study visit.
- Undergo tests including pulmonary function tests (PFT), symptom assessments, bacteriologic evaluations, radiographic imaging (CT/X-ray), and quality of life surveys (EQ-5D-5L, CAT score).
- This study aims to provide clinical evidence supporting the role of non-pharmacological treatments in the management of NTM-PD, potentially informing future treatment guidelines and improving patient outcomes.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 20 years or older at the time of enrollment.
- Diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) according to the 2020 American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines.
- Identification of clinically significant NTM species, including:
Mycobacterium avium / Mycobacterium intracellulare / Mycobacterium abscessus / Mycobacterium massiliense / Mycobacterium kansasii /
- Able to undergo pulmonary rehabilitation and airway clearance training as part of the study protocol.
- Willing to provide written informed consent to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently pregnant or actively breastfeeding.
- Unable to participate in pulmonary rehabilitation due to severe mobility impairment or neuromuscular disorders.
- History of massive hemoptysis or other medical conditions where airway clearance techniques may be contraindicated.