title: Effect of aerobic exercise training on fatigue and physical activity in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of an exercise intervention for decreasing fatigue severity and increasing physical activity in individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A small, phase 2 randomized clinical trial of the effect of aerobic exercise training on fatigue severity and physical activity in patients with idiopathic or PAH associated with other conditions was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with PAH (24 female; age: 54.4 ± 10.4 years; BMI: 30.8 ± 7.2 kg/m(2)) participated in the study. A convenience sample was recruited in which 9% (28 of 303) of screened patients were enrolled. The project was carried out in a clinical pulmonary rehabilitation clinic during existing pulmonary rehabilitation program sessions. Patients with PH were randomized into a 10-week program that consisted of patient education only or patient education plus an aerobic exercise-training regimen. Both groups received 20 lectures, two per week over the 10-weeks, on topics related to PAH and its management. The aerobic exercise training consisted of 24-30 sessions of treadmill walking for 30-45 min per session at an intensity of 70-80% of heart rate reserve, three days per week over the 10 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 10-weeks of intervention, patients receiving aerobic exercise training plus education reported routinely engaging in higher levels of physical activity (p < 0.05) and a decrease in fatigue severity (p = 0.03). Patients in the education only group did not report changes in fatigue severity or participation in physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 10-week aerobic exercise training intervention resulted in increased physical activity and decreased fatigue in individuals with PAH. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00678821.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Chronic Illness and Disability, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MSN 2G7, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA. aweinst2@gmu.edu
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Lisa M K
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Randall E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Keyser
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.forename: Joshua G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Woolstenhulme
authors.forename: Gerilynn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Connors
authors.forename: Leighton
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult