Late Breaking Abstract - The effect of exercise rehabilitation on cardiac function, measured by cardiac MRI, in patients with pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Introduction: Exercise rehabilitation is effective and safe in patients with pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). It has been shown to improve exercise capacity and quality of life but there is limited information available on changes in cardiac function. We assessed the effect of exercise on cardiac function, measured by cardiac MRI (CMR), in a prospective study in the Scottish Pulmonary Vascular Unit. Methods: 26 patients with stable, optimally treated PH, were recruited to a two-phase rehabilitation trial: Phase 1: 3 weeks of supervised inpatient aerobic and resistance exercise Phase 2: 12 weeks of remotely supervised exercise, based on inpatient regime. CMR was obtained at baseline and 15 weeks. Image analysis was performed using Circle Cardiovascular Imaging, version 5.1. Results: Mean age 53 years, majority female (19/26). 62% Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, 23% Connective Tissue Disease related PH, 8% Heritable, 8% Chronic Thromboembolic PH. Table 1 shows changes in cardiac indices. Conclusion: Exercise rehabilitation in pre-capillary PH led to significant improvements in cardiac output, stroke volume and right ventricular ejection fraction (EF). Small numbers limited results. Further work is required to assess long term benefits.