Physiological response to physical activity in pulmonary hypertension

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Association of intensity of daily physical activity with respiratory response, central hemodynamics and leg muscle oxygen availability during exercise in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

  • IRAS ID

    160508

  • Contact name

    Martin K Johnson

  • Contact email

    mjohnson4@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    NHS National Waiting Times Health Board

  • Research summary

    This study will enrol stable patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), a condition in which there is increased pressure within the pulmonary arteries causing progressive right heart failure and ultimately death. These patients have a reduced level of daily physical activity (DPA) which is linked to diminished health related quality of life. The relative contribution of impaired respiratory, haemodynamic and peripheral muscle dysfunction underlying the reduced DPA is not known because these measurements are not usually made at exercise intensities corresponding to normal DPA. Using non-invasive techniques this study will investigate the respiratory response (by measuring expired gases), the cardiac output (by bioimpedance) and the muscle oxygen saturation (by near infrared spectroscopy) at levels of exertion identified to correspond with the usual level of DPA for each subject. Using both multivariate linear regression and grouping of the subjects into those above and below median DPA levels, the best physiological predictors of impaired DPA will be identified This study will be the first to define physiological response to exercise in PH patients in conditions simulating real life activity levels. The investigations will be carried out at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank, where the Scottish Pulmonary Vascular Unit is based.

  • REC name

    West of Scotland REC 3

  • REC reference

    14/WS/1075

  • Date of REC Opinion

    30 Sep 2014

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion