Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2025
Using Continuous Data Tracking Technology to Study Exercise Adherence in Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Published on: November 8, 2013
Routine Rehabilitation as a Treatment Component for Patients With Pulmonary Arterial or Chronic Thromboembolic
Thomas Barret1, Bruno Degano, Hélène Bouvaist
1Service de Rééducation Cardiaque, Institut de Rééducation Sud, Pôle Thorax et Vaisseaux, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France (Drs Barret, Noirclerc, and Rocca); Service de Cardiologie, Pôle Thorax et Vaisseaux, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France (Drs Bouvaist and Vanzetto); Université Grenoble Alpes, Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France (Drs Degano, Pison, and Vanzetto); and Service Hospitalier Universitaire Pneumologie Physiologie, Pôle Thorax et Vaisseaux, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France (Drs Degano and Pison).
Purpose:
Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) have long been advised to avoid exercise in fear of deterioration in right-sided heart function. Since the 2009 European Society of Cardiology guidelines, rehabilitation in expert centers is considered to have a specific role in care of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We report routine rehabilitation effects in patients with PH as a component of real-life multimodal treatment.
Methods:
Patients with PAH or CTEPH were recommended for either in- or outpatient rehabilitation in addition to their usual care, unless there were practical problems or the patient declined. Assessment was conducted according to New York Heart Association classes, adverse events, 6 min-walk test, hemodynamics, and risk stratification after rehabilitation.
Results:
Forty-one patients, 61% female, age 60 ±18 yr were included between March 2010 and May 2019. No major adverse events or deaths related to progression of right-sided heart failure were reported. Nevertheless, 22% of participants suffered adverse events in most cases not linked with physical activity. Rehabilitation as add-on to medical therapy and/or arterial deobstruction improved New York Heart Association class: mean difference, -0.39 (95% CI, -0.68 to -0.10), 6-min walk test: mean difference, 80 m (95% CI, 46-114), and was associated with improved right-sided heart hemodynamics. The risk assessment grade improved by -0.25 points (95% CI, -0.44 to -0.06) after rehabilitation.
Conclusions:
For patients with PAH or CTEPH, supervised rehabilitation as add-on to medical therapy and/or arterial deobstruction is safe and effective in improving patient and clinically related outcomes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Pulmonary Embolism III: Nursing Management
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:27Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
01:16Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue,...
01:23Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
01:26Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...