Nonpharmacological treatment for patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.
Patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) often have significant exercise intolerance and poorer health-related quality of life (HRQL). The goals of treatment for NTM-LD should include reducing the severity of symptoms, improving HRQL, and reducing acute exacerbations. Nonpharmacological treatment, including pulmonary rehabilitation program and optimal nutritional strategy, should be one part of treatment for NTM-LD. A pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program can comprise education, airway clearance techniques instruction, exercise training program, and inspiratory muscle training (IMT). Airway clearance techniques can improve the volume of sputum expectorated, cough symptom, breathlessness, and HRQL. Exercise training can improve exercise capacity and HRQL, and reduce acute exacerbations and dyspnea. Clinical benefits of IMT remain controversial but high-intensity IMT has been shown to be effective in increasing respiratory muscle strength with concurrent improvement of HRQL and exercise capacity. Body weight and muscle mass loss are common in patients with NTM-LD. An adequate protein and caloric diet combined with antioxidant nutrients might be the most appropriate dietary strategy. Comprehensive treatment for NTM-LD should include the combination of both pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments. The management programs should be tailored to the individual's condition.
['Lan|Chou-Chin|CC|', 'Lai|Sheng-Ru|SR|', 'Chien|Jung-Yien|JY|']
D004417:Dyspnea D006801:Humans D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous D011014:Pneumonia D011788:Quality of Life D013183:Sputum
Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease Pulmonary rehabilitation Nutrition Airway clearance technique Bronchiectasis