Comportamiento de la actividad física cotidiana en pacientes con hipertensión arterial pulmonar en tratamiento con antagonistas de los receptores de la endotelina

Introduction

The assessment of daily physical activity is important to prevent and treat many diseases more effectively.

Objectives

to evaluate daily physical activity using Tri-axial accelerometers in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and treated with endothelin receptor antagonists.

Material and methods

Six patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension diagnosed by right heart catheterization were included. World Health Organization functional class, 6-minute walking test, daily physical activity evaluated with the London Chest Activity of Daily Living Scale and with RT3 accelerometers devices were assessed in two opportunities, before and after three months of treatment with nonselective endothelin receptor antagonist drugs.

Results

Mean scores of the London Chest Activity of Daily Living Scale scale before and after three months treatment were 35.0 (26.8–43.5) [median and interquartilic range] and 22.0 (16.5–28.3), respectively (p=0.068). Daily physical activity measured by accelerometer was associated with the minimum oxygen saturation during the 6-minute walking test (r=0.825, p=0.043). The total period of low intensity physical activity registered was associated with pulmonary vascular resistances (r=0.989; p=0.001) and the total period of heavy intensity physical activity registered with the systemic vascular resistances (r=0.0890; p=0.043).

Conclusion

Daily physical activity of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension could be evaluated with accelerometers. In this way, physical activity is associated with the exercise tolerance and with hemodynamic measures.