Patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) frequently remain symptomatic despite medical therapy. Symptoms include breathlessness, poor exercise capacity and reduced quality of life. In many other serious heart or lung diseases it has been shown that physical rehabilitation improves patient's fitness and quality of life. In PAH there are no clear guidelines and in general physical activity has traditionally been discouraged, although evidence for this advice is lacking. Interesting research project in Germany showed significant benefit for in-patient rehabilitation in PAH patients. In this study we will perform a controlled clinical study of out-patient rehabilitation of patients with PAH. We hypothesize that physical training of patients will result in increased exercise capacity and improved quality of life.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
45
Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center
Petah Tikva, Israel
Six minute walking distance
Time frame: 3 months
New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class
Time frame: 3 months
Echocardiographic parameters
Time frame: 3 months
Quality of life as assessed by the SF-36
Time frame: 3 months
Performance in cardiopulmonary exercise test
Time frame: 3 months
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