Physical activity and respiratory symptoms after pulmonary embolism. A longitudinal observational study

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major cause of hospitalization and morbidity. Common symptoms are dyspnea and respiratory pain. Physical activity (PA) and respiratory symptoms during the first year after PE are not previously studied. The aim of the study was to describe PA and respiratory symptoms, to have as base for recommendations on PA after PE.

Sixty-four consecutive patients with first time PE were investigated during hospitalization and at 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge. The investigations included spirometry, six-minute walk test as well as ratings of PA, dyspnea and respiratory pain.

Median PA per week increased from 4 (0-27) hours to 7 (0-29) hours, while ratings of dyspnea and respiratory pain decreased during the year. Lung function, measured as forced expiratory volume in one second, increased between discharge and 3 months. Functional capacity, measured as six-minute walk distance, increased during the whole year. Reasons for change in amount of physical activity after pulmonary embolism were identified. To keep healthy and avoid recurrence of PE were two of the reasons to increase PA, and fear of respiratory pain, dyspnea at exertion and fear of recurrence of PE, among the reasons to decrease it.

Median PA increased during the year. Respiratory symptoms and lung function improved during the first 3 months, whereas functional capacity improved during the whole year after. These results indicate that PA after PE is safe and can be recommended to patients, at least if no severe cardiovascular co-morbidity is present.