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NCT Number: NCT07805174

High-Intensity Interval Exercise in Bronchiectasis Patients

The aim of our study is to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on the symptoms of bronchiectasis in patients with the disease. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does HIIE improve respiratory function in patients with bronchiectasis? 2. Does HIIE increase functional capacity, peripheral muscle strength, and quality of life in patients with bronchiectasis? 3. Does HIIE reduce the severity of dyspnea, cough symptoms, and fatigue in patients with bronchiectasis?

The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. Participants were divided into two groups: intervention and control.

Participants will:

The intervention group will receive HIIE training three days a week along with airway clearance techniques.

The control group would receive only airway clearance techniques. Airway clearance techniques will be provided clinically (three days a week) and at home, according to the needs of the individuals each day of the week.

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Key information

Conditions

Bronchiectasis, Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchial Diseases Bronchiectasis High Intensity Interval Exercise Respiratory Tract Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Gulhane Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Ankara, Keçiören, 06018, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

CONTACT

[email protected]

0 312 567 15 00

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Being over 18 years of age
  • Having a clinical and radiological diagnosis of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis
  • Absence of cognitive impairment (MMT>24)
  • Being clinically stable (not having experienced any exacerbation in the last 4 weeks)

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of any disease that may affect compliance with exercise (Unstable angina (within the last month), recent myocardial infarction (heart attack), uncontrolled arrhythmias, severe aortic stenosis, decompensated heart failure, severe pulmonary hypertension, acute respiratory tract infection, severe hypoxemia at rest (<85%), orthopedic or neurological problems that impede walking, severe anemia, acute infections, very high resting blood pressure (systolic >180-200 mmHg, diastolic >100-110 mmHg), psychological issues, etc.)
  • Smoking
  • Chronic alcoholism that may affect exercise safety (More than 1 drink per day on average for women, more than 2 drinks per day on average for men (1 standard drink ≈ 10-14 g of alcohol)
  • Presence of any respiratory tract disease other than bronchiectasis
  • After incremental shuttle walk test arterial oxygen saturation <80%
  • Participation in a structured exercise program within the last 6 months

Treatment and study plan

High-Intensity Interval Exercise

Other

The high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) protocol (4×4 model: 4 minutes at 85-95% maximum heart rate, with 3 minutes of active recovery at 60-70% in between), will be applied 3 days a week for 8 weeks using a treadmill or cycle ergometer, taking into account the participants' physical characteristics and safety requirements.

Airway clearance tecniques

Other

Among the airway clearance techniques, the active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT) and manual techniques will be applied. Additionally, the autogenic drainage technique will be taught to patients for them to practice at home. Airway clearance techniques will be demonstrated to the patients practically and they will be asked to perform them daily (3 days a week in the clinic) as needed.

Primary outcomes

  1. Functional Performance

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at week 4 following the study

    Functional performance will be measured using an incremental shuttle walk test.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (PImax)

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at week 4 following the study.

    Inspiratory muscle strength will be assessed by measuring the maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) using an electronic, portable, intraoral pressure measuring device. PImax represents the maximum negative pressure generated during a forceful inhalation against an occluded airway. Results will be reported in centimeters of water (cmH2O), with higher absolute values indicating greater inspiratory muscle strength.

  2. Maximal Expiratory Pressure (PEmax)

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at week 4 following the study.

    Expiratory muscle strength will be assessed by measuring the maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax) using an electronic, portable, intraoral pressure measuring device. PEmax represents the maximum positive pressure generated during a forceful exhalation against an occluded airway. Results will be reported in centimeters of water (cmH2O), with higher values indicating greater expiratory muscle strength.

  3. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at week 4 following the study.

    Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) is the total volume of air that can be exhaled forcefully and completely after a maximal inspiration. It is measured using spirometry to assess overall lung volume and capacity. The results will be reported as an absolute volume in Liters (L).

  4. FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second)

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at week 4 following the study.

    Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) is the volume of air forcefully exhaled during the first second after a maximal inspiration, measured using spirometry. Outcomes are reported in absolute volume (Liters) and % to evaluate airway obstruction and overall pulmonary function.

  5. FEV1/FVC

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at week 4 following the study

    FEV1/FVC(%) will be calculated using the FEV1 and FVC values obtained from the pulmonary function test.

  6. Fatigue

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at week 4 following the study

    To assess the severity of fatigue and its impact on daily life, the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), a self-report scale, will be used. The scale consists of 9 items, each scored between 1 (strongly disagree) and 7 (strongly agree). The average score is calculated by dividing the total score by the number of items, with higher scores indicating more severe fatigue. A score of 4 or higher generally indicates severe fatigue.

  7. Dyspnea Severity

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at week 4 following the study.

    Dyspnea severity will be assessed using the Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale. The scale classifies dyspnea on a five-point scale from 0 to 4; a score of 0 indicates dyspnea occurring only during strenuous exercise, while a score of 4 describes significant shortness of breath even during the mildest daily activities.

  8. The Bronchiectasis Health Questionnaire

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at week 4 following the study

    The Bronchiectasis Health Questionnaire (BHQ) will be used to assess disease-specific quality of life. The BHQ is a patient-completed scale consisting of 10 items that evaluates symptom burden, physical function, and the impact of the disease on daily life. Each item is scored between 0 and 7, and the total score ranges from 0 to 70; higher scores indicate better health status and quality of life.

  9. Cough Questionnaire

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, after 8 weeks of treatment, and at week 4 following the study.

    The Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) is a disease-specific, patient-completed scale developed to assess the impact of cough on quality of life in individuals with chronic cough. The LLC consists of 19 items and covers three sub-dimensions: physical, psychological, and social. Each item is scored between 1 and 7, and the average of the sub-dimension scores is calculated and summed to obtain a total score ranging from 3 to 21; higher scores indicate better quality of life and less cough-related impact.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Mustafa Ertuğrul YAŞA, Associate Professor

CONTACT

[email protected]

0312 304 61 97

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Investigation of the Effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Exercise in Bronchiectasis Patients

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Sep 4, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 4, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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