The long-term effect of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor on cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescent patients with cystic fibrosis: a pilot observational study.
Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
Single group prospective observational study
Participants
10 adolescent patients with cystic fibrosis who completed two CPET measurements between January 2019 and February 2023. During this period, elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor treatment was initiated in all of them.
Interventions
Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor medication. Between January 2019 and February 2023 elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor treatment was initiated.
We observed significant improvement in peak workload, VO(2 peak), VO(2VT1), VO(2VT2), V(E)/VCO(2) slope, V(E), V(T), RQ, VO(2)/HR peak and RR peak. The mean change in VO(2 )peak was 5.7 mL/kg/min, or 15.9% of the reference value (SDâ±â16.6; p=â0.014). VO(2VT1) improved by 15% of the reference value (SDâ±â0.1; p=â0.014), VO(2VT2 )improved by 0.5 (SDâ±â0.4; p=â0.01). There were no differences in other parameters.
Authors' conclusions
Exercise tolerance improved after elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor treatment initiation. We suggest that the CFTR modulator alone is not enough for recovering physical decondition, but should be supplemented with physical activity and respiratory physiotherapy. Further studies are needed to examine the effect of CFTR modulators and physical therapy on cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance.