Effects of Physical Exercise in Patients with Pulmonary Blood Hypertension: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a complex clinical abnormality and its main characteristic is the increase in pulmonary arterial pressure followed by progressive advancement in vascular resistance, making it difficult for blood to pass through the arteries. Physical exercise is a non-drug treatment option for this population. Objectives: To investigate the role of physical exercise in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Methodology: A search was made in the databases: Pubmed, Scielo and Lilacs in the last 10 years, and no language restriction were imposed. We searched for articles that reported the impact of physical exercise on functional variables in patients with PAH. Results: Six articles were selected, which verified an improvement in the quality of life, an increase in the distance covered in the six-minute walk test and a reduction in the level of fatigue, without hemodynamic changes, in the group of patients who performed aerobic exercises. Conclusion: It is suggested that physical exercise, such as aerobic training, promotes increased functional capacity and quality of life in patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Author(s): Damille Santos De Freitas, Gustavo Dourado Macedo Marques, André Luiz Lisboa Cordeiro* and Amanda Marinho

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