Quality of life and physical activity level in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

• Grant number: 19/21153-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2020
• End date: January 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Mônica Corso Pereira
• Grantee: Vitória Veronez
• Host Institution: Hospital de Clínicas (HC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) encompasses a group of patients whose pathophysiological characteristics classify them into five groups. This study will focus on group 1 that includes pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which is diagnosed after excluding other causal factors, as well as group 4, which includes chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Although both conditions share hemodynamic findings, the treatment response, outcomes and prognosis differ between them. Objective: to evaluate the quality of life, the level of daily physical activity, the barriers to performing physical activities, the hemodynamic profile and the functional capacity of patients with PAH and CTEPH. Methods: this is a cross-sectional and observational study with patients diagnosed with PAH or CTEPH followed in Pulmonary Vascular Diseases clinics of Hospital of State University of Campinas (Unicamp). All patients will have the dyspnea level characterized (functional class) and will perform the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). They also will answer to three questionnaires [quality of life (SF-36), barriers to physical activity, (Barriers), and daily activities (Manchester Respiratory Activities of Daily Living - MRADL), and will be will be submitted to a transthoracic echocardiography. Each group will be described for all variables collected in order to have a clinical, functional and hemodynamic profile. Also, both groups will be compared concerning the variables collected. It is expected that this study may contribute to improve the understanding of the aspects involved in exercise limitation, a typical clinical finding of patients with pulmonary hypertension. Patients with CTEPH appear to have greater severity in exercise intolerance than patients with PAH, even for the same level of hemodynamic involvement. Understanding the adaptive mechanisms and impact on daily life of exercise limitation in these PH groups can contribute to better qualify and customize therapeutic care in these severe and progressive chronic conditions.