Exercise Capacity Respiratory Muscle Strength Dyspnea and Physical Activity in Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Condition: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
MeSH terms: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; Dyspnea; Hypertension
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The primary aim of this study was to evaluate exercise capacity, respiratory muscle strength,
      pulmonary function, dyspnea and physical activity levels in pediatric PAH patients and
      compare them with healthy controls.

      The secondary aim of the study was; To investigate the relationship of dyspnea with exercise
      capacity, respiratory muscle strength, respiratory functions, physical activity and blood
      count parameters in pediatric PAH patients.
    

Detailed description: 
      Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 25 mmHg or more
      at rest. Since the diagnosis of PAH can be made mostly in the late phase of the disease,
      severe functional and hemodynamic problems are prevalent in patients. In addition, patients
      commonly present with dyspnea, fatigue, weakness, general exercise intolerance, chest pain,
      syncope, and abdominal distension. These signs and symptoms are due to reduced oxygen
      consumption and decreased cardiac output. Activity dyspnea is evident in patients in the
      early stages of the disease. There is limited number of studies in pediatric PAH patients
      investigating exercise intolerance. While the cardiopulmonary exercise test can be safely
      performed in pediatric PAH patients, the six-minute walk test is both an independent
      predictor of prognosis and reflects the severity of the disease in these patients. However,
      there are no studies in the literature investigating and comparing exercise capacity,
      respiratory muscle strength, respiratory functions, dyspnea, and physical activity levels in
      pediatric PAH patients compared to age- and sex-matched healthy children. For this reason, in
      this study, the level of physical impairments of children with pediatric PAH was investigated
      for the first time compared to healthy children. In addition, there has been no study in the
      literature investigated the relationship between dyspnea, which can be seen significantly
      from the early stages of the disease in pediatric PAH patients, with exercise capacity,
      respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, physical activity levels and blood count
      parameters.

      It is a cross-sectional study. At least 15 PAH patients and 15 age-and sex-matched healthy
      controls were aimed to include in the study. Individuals' exercise capacity using six minute
      walk test, respiratory muscle strength using a mouth pressure device, pulmonary function
      using spirometry, dyspnea using Modified Borg scale, physical activity using multi-sensory
      activity monitor were evaluated. The assessments were completed in two days.
    

Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        13 patients with PAH and 15 healthy individuals were included in the study.
      
Keywords: muscle strength; exercise; exercise test; physical activity; pulmonary arterial hypertension; Respiratory Function Tests