A comparison of the acute haemodynamic response to aerobic and resistance exercise in subjects with exercise-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension

• Published in: European journal of preventive cardiology 2013-08, Vol.20 (4), p.605-612
• Main Authors: Fowler, Robin M, Maiorana, Andrew J, Jenkins, Sue C, Gain, Kevin R, O’Driscoll, Gerry, Gabbay, Eli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Bicycling; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Catheterization, Swan-Ganz; Exercise Test; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; Female; Heart; Hemodynamics; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary - diagnosis; Hypertension, Pulmonary - etiology; Hypertension, Pulmonary - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength; Oxygen Consumption; Pneumology; Pulmonary Artery - physiopathology; Pulmonary hypertension. Acute cor pulmonale. Pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary vascular diseases; Resistance Training - adverse effects; Time Factors; Western Australia
• ISSN: 2047-4873; 2047-4881
• DOI: 10.1177/2047487312445424

Background:Exercise-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (EIPAH) is associated with reduced exercise capacity and abnormal central haemodynamic responses to maximal aerobic exercise. Aerobic and resistance exercise training are commonly employed to treat reduced exercise capacity; however, the haemodynamic response to aerobic and resistance exercise, at training intensities, in subjects with EIPAH is unknown. Methods:Fourteen subjects (11 with scleroderma, 12 females) with EIPAH underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a cycle ergometer, a one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength test and resistance exercise at 40% and 60% of maximum on a bilateral leg press machine. All tests were performed with a pulmonary artery catheter in situ. Haemodynamic and symptomatic responses to aerobic and resistance exercise, performed at 40% of peak oxygen consumption and 40% of 1RM, and at 60% of peak oxygen consumption and 60% of 1RM, were compared. For maximal exercise, the highest haemodynamic responses recorded during the cycling and 1RM tests were compared. Results:There were no differences in haemodynamic or symptomatic responses between the two modalities of submaximal exercise. At maximal exercise, all haemodynamic and symptomatic responses were lower during resistance compared with aerobic exercise (p