Impact of NMES on Spirometry Values, Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension

Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo30 enrolled

Overview

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) features symptoms related to a decreased cardiac autonomic response, pulmonary function and exercise capacity. Non-pharmacological interventions are low cost and can significant enhance outcomes in these patients. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been proposed as a viable therapeutic approach in patients with functional limitations, particularly those that present with difficulty to perform exercise protocols. Objective: to evaluate the impact of NMES on exercise capacity, spirometry values and quality of life of patients with PH. Material and methods: prospective randomized controlled study with a control group (GC, n9) and NMES goup (GE, n8). Quality of life and exercise capacity through the six-minute walk test (6MWT) were assessed before and after the NMES protocol. Results: the GE presented with a significant improvement in distance walked in the 6MWT, cycle ergometry, spirometry and quality of life in the areas of vitality, emotional and social aspects of the questionnaire Short Form Health Survey-36. Conclusion: NMES is a useful tool in the treatment of patients with PH, resulting in improved exercise capacity, quality of life and lung function testing.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Pulmonary Hypertension

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 80 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: Males and females greater than or equal to 18 years of age, clinically stable with optimized drug therapy in the last 3 months, previously diagnosed with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥ 25 mmHg by right heart catheterization and who agreed to participate by signing an informed consent were included. Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria included a diagnosis of Down syndrome, orthopedic disease or neurologic or diagnoses, history of acute heart attack, use of beta-blockers, any urgent or elective surgical intervention during the implementation of the protocol, those who used assistive devices to ambulate or develop an infectious process during the study protocol.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Distance in six-minute walk test

analysis of distance

Time frame: change from baseline in distance at 2 months

Oxygen saturation in six-minute walk test

analysis of oxygen saturation at end of test

Time frame: change from baseline in oxygen saturation at 2 months

Systolic blood pressure in six-minute walk test

analysis of systolic blood pressure at end of test

Time frame: change from baseline in systolic blood pressure at 2 months

Diastolic blood pressure in six-minute walk test

analysis of diastolic blood pressure at end of test

Time frame: change from baseline in diastolic blood pressure at 2 months

Heart rate in six-minute walk test

analysis of heart rate at end of test

Time frame: change from baseline in heart rate at 2 months

Borg scale in six-minute walk test

analysis of Borg scale at end of test

Time frame: change from baseline in Borg scale at 2 months