Effect of Individualized Moderate-intensity Exercise Prescription on Cardiopulmonary Function for Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze the cardiopulmonary function of stable patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and to explore effects of the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)-based individualized moderate-intensity exercise prescription on cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity in patients with PAH. Methods:From April, 2018 to July, 2019, 31 stable patients with PAH (PAH group) and 32 healthy counterparts (normal group) were enrolled. All subjects underwent CPET. PAH group was assessed with 6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT), and then was divided into exercise group (n = 16) and control group (n = 15). Both groups were treated with ordinary targeted drugs, while the exercise group was additionally provided with an individualized moderate-intensity exercise prescription of △50% power treadmill training, five days a week for eight weeks. CPET and 6MWT were conducted again after intervention. Results:Before intervention, body mass, body mass index (BMI), force vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), anaerobic threshold (AT), peak heart rate (HRpeak), peak systolic blood pressure (SBPpeak), peak load power (WRpeak), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), peak oxygen pulse (VO2/HRpeak), peak cardiac output (COpeak), peak minute ventilation (VEpeak), peak end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2peak), peak pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2peak) and oxygen uptake efficiency plateau (OUEP) were significantly lower (t > 2.419, P < 0.05), and the rest heart rate (HRrest), peak dead space to tidal volume ratio (VD/VTpeak), minimum ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide (Lowest VE/VCO2) and slope of ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide (VE/VCO2 slope) were higher (|t| > 2.615, P < 0.05) in PAH group than in the normal group. After intervention, FEV1, MVV, VO2peak (ml/min/kg) and VO2/HRpeak decreased in the control group (t > 2.272, P < 0.05); FVC, FEV1, MVV, AT, SBPpeak, WRpeak, VO2peak, VO2/HRpeak, COpeak, VEpeak, PETCO2peak, SpO2peak and 6-Minute Walking Distance (6MWD) increased (|t| > 2.167, P < 0.05), while the average Lowest VE/VCO2 and VE/VCO2 slope decreased (t > 2.264, P < 0.05) in the exercise group. Compared with the control group, the FEV1/FVC, AT, WRpeak, VO2peak, VO2/HRpeak, COpeak and 6MWD increased in the exercise group (|t| > 2.168, P < 0.05). Conclusion:The holistic cardiopulmonary function of stable patients with PAH decreases. CPET-based individualized moderate-intensity exercise could enhance the cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity of patients with PAH.