Impact of phase II cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life and functional capacity in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
A A L LubisAbstract
Background
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive condition that significantly reduces functional capacity and quality of life. Conventional therapy often results in limited clinical improvement.
Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of phase II cardiac rehabilitation on functional capacity, quality of life, and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in patients with PAH.
Methods
This quasi-experimental study was conducted from December 2024 to February 2025. Patients were divided into an intervention group (cardiac rehabilitation) and a control group (pharmacological therapy alone). Outcome measures included the six-minute walk test (6MWT), EuroQol-5D-3L (EQ-5D-3L), visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), and mPAP. Statistical analyses were performed with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results
A total of 36 patients were enrolled. The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in 6MWT performance (low-risk category increased from 27.8% to 83.3%, p < 0.001), a reduction in mPAP (moderate-to-severe category decreased from 83.3% to 66.7%, p = 0.006), and improved EQ-5D-3L quality-of-life scores (serious impairment decreased from 27.8% to 0%, p = 0.009). The greatest benefits were observed in patients with World Health Organization functional class (WHO-FC) III and in those who completed ≥10 rehabilitation sessions.
Conclusion
Phase II cardiac rehabilitation significantly improves functional capacity and quality of life while reducing mPAP in patients with PAH and may be considered an effective adjunctive therapy in clinical management.