• Ali A Weinstein, Lisa M K Chin, Randall E Keyser, Michelle Kennedy, Steven D Nathan, Joshua G Woolstenhulme, Gerilynn Connors, and Leighton Chan.
• 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
• Respir Med. 2013 May 1; 107 (5): 778-84.

ObjectiveTo 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.MethodsTwenty-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.ResultsAfter 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.ConclusionsThe 10-week aerobic exercise training intervention resulted in increased physical activity and decreased fatigue in individuals with PAH. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00678821.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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