MedPath

Impact of NMES on Spirometry Values, Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Pulmonary Hypertension
Interventions
Other: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Registration Number
NCT02712294
Lead Sponsor
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo
Brief Summary

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) features symptoms related to a decreased cardiac autonomic response, pulmonary function and exercise capacity.

Non-pharmacological interventions are low cost and can significant enhance outcomes in these patients. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been proposed as a viable therapeutic approach in patients with functional limitations, particularly those that present with difficulty to perform exercise protocols.

Objective: to evaluate the impact of NMES on exercise capacity, spirometry values and quality of life of patients with PH.

Material and methods: prospective randomized controlled study with a control group (GC, n9) and NMES goup (GE, n8). Quality of life and exercise capacity through the six-minute walk test (6MWT) were assessed before and after the NMES protocol.

Results: the GE presented with a significant improvement in distance walked in the 6MWT, cycle ergometry, spirometry and quality of life in the areas of vitality, emotional and social aspects of the questionnaire Short Form Health Survey-36.

Conclusion: NMES is a useful tool in the treatment of patients with PH, resulting in improved exercise capacity, quality of life and lung function testing.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria

Males and females greater than or equal to 18 years of age, clinically stable with optimized drug therapy in the last 3 months, previously diagnosed with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥ 25 mmHg by right heart catheterization and who agreed to participate by signing an informed consent were included.

Exclusion Criteria

Exclusion criteria included a diagnosis of Down syndrome, orthopedic disease or neurologic or diagnoses, history of acute heart attack, use of beta-blockers, any urgent or elective surgical intervention during the implementation of the protocol, those who used assistive devices to ambulate or develop an infectious process during the study protocol.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
NMES Group (GE)Neuromuscular Electrical StimulationReceiving the usual care and guidance on their illness, underwent 30 minute NMES sessions twice a week for two months using an electrostimulator. Specifically, 5 cm adhesive surface electrodes in four alternate channels on the Rectus Femoris (two channels the right and two on the left) were used to deliver two-phase symmetrical currents, with a rectangular pulse wave at a frequency of 35 Hz and pulse duration of 250 μ. The time of ascent and descent was one second, contraction time was four seconds and relaxation was eight seconds.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Borg scale in six-minute walk testchange from baseline in Borg scale at 2 months

analysis of Borg scale at end of test

Systolic blood pressure in six-minute walk testchange from baseline in systolic blood pressure at 2 months

analysis of systolic blood pressure at end of test

Diastolic blood pressure in six-minute walk testchange from baseline in diastolic blood pressure at 2 months

analysis of diastolic blood pressure at end of test

Distance in six-minute walk testchange from baseline in distance at 2 months

analysis of distance

Oxygen saturation in six-minute walk testchange from baseline in oxygen saturation at 2 months

analysis of oxygen saturation at end of test

Heart rate in six-minute walk testchange from baseline in heart rate at 2 months

analysis of heart rate at end of test

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Forced vital capacitychange from baseline at 2 months

spirometric analysis

Forced expiratory volume in the first secondchange from baseline at 2 months

spirometric analysis

The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Surveychange from baseline at 2 months

The questionnaire covers 36 items, designed to assess health concepts

Forced expiratory flow 25-75 %change from baseline at 2 months

spirometric analysis

Ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second and forced vital capacitychange from baseline at 2 months

spirometric analysis

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Santa Casa of Sao Paulo Medical School

🇧🇷

Sao Paulo, Brazil

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath