MedPath

Pulmonary Rehabilitation to Improve Physical Capacity After Pulmonary Embolism

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Pulmonary Embolism
Interventions
Other: Rehabilitation
Registration Number
NCT03405480
Lead Sponsor
Ostfold Hospital Trust
Brief Summary

This project aims to evaluate a rehabilitation program as treatment and uncover potential pathophysiological mechanisms of a newly identified chronic condition named "Post Pulmonary Embolism Syndrome" (PPS).

Detailed Description

The newly identified Post Pulmonary Embolism Syndrome (PPS) is characterized by chronic persistent, but unexplained dyspnea (i.e. without signs of pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary abnormality). Symptoms are considerable, but less severe than in CTEPH patients. A recent study performed by our group confirmed that up to 50% of our patients complained of various grades of persistent unexplained dyspnea 1-10 years after the diagnosis of PE.

In this multifaceted project we wish to evaluate the effect of an eight week rehabilitation program led and supervised by a trained physiotherapist on exercise capacity in PPS patients. This interventional part of the study will be formed as a randomized controlled trial. Patients will be randomized to either usual care or a physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation program.

The study also aims to explore potential underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in PPS, using state of the art methods such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and transthoracic echocardiography involving novel methods focusing on the right ventricle. The pathophysiological part of the study will be formed as a case control study, where post PE-patients who do not fulfill the criteria for PPS will serve as controls.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
209
Inclusion Criteria
  • Objectively diagnosed symptomatic pulmonary embolism by CTPA or high-probability scintigraphy 6 months to 6 years before inclusion
  • Persistent dyspnea defined as modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) breathlessness scale >= 1 that has appeared or worsened after the diagnosis of PE (eligibility criteria for randomization)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Significant pulmonary disease (COPD GOLD >= 2, restrictive pulmonary disease, lung cancer or pleural disease.
  • Heart failure (either HFrEF, HFmrEF or HFpEF as defined in ESC guidelines)
  • Significant valvular heart disease
  • Chronic thromboemboli pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)
  • Patients unfit for rehabilitation or walking tests du to old age, physical disability or disease
  • Patients with a history of poor compliance or any condition that would interfere with the ability to comply with the study protocol e.g. history of drug abuse, excessive alcohol beverage consumption, cognitive dysfunction or severe psychiatric disease
  • Active malignancy
  • Life expectancy less than 3 months
  • Pregnancy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
RehabilitationRehabilitationPhysiotherapist-supervised outpatient rehabilitation program 2 times a week for a total of 8 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
ISWTISWT wil be performed at 12 weeks and 36 weeks after baseline

Change in "Incremental Shuttle Walk Test" will be primary endpoint for interventional part of the study

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
HRQoL by EQ-5d12 weeks and 36 weeks after baseline

The effect of rehabilitation on HRQoL measured by EQ-5D

Long term effect of physical capacity6 months after completing rehabilitation

The long-term effect of rehabilitation on physical capacity measured by ISWT, 6 months after completing the rehabilitation

Minimum clinically important difference for ISWT36 weeks after baseline

Establish the minimum clinically important difference (MID) for the ISWT in patients with PPS expressed in meters.

Test-retest reliability of the ISWT in this patient populationAt baseline, 12 weeks and 36 weeks

Test-retest reliability of the ISWT in this patient population

mMRC12 weeks and 36 weeks after inclusion

The effect of rehabilitation on dyspnea measured by mMRC breathlessness scale

Proportion of patients who achieves the established minimum clinically important difference36 weeks after baseline

Proportion of patients who achieves the established minimum clinically important difference for ISWT for this population

Sensewear12 weeks and 36 weeks after baseline

The effect of PRP on daily physical activity as measured with an activity monitor (Sensewear)

HRQoL by PEmb-QoL12 weeks and 36 weeks after baseline

The effect of rehabilitation on HRQoL measured by PEmb-QoL

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The hospital of Østfold, Kalnes

🇳🇴

Grålum, Norway

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath