key: cord-1036138-ahvdq4rr authors: Babu, Abraham S.; Morris, Norman R. title: Patients support exercise training and rehabilitation—what more should we be doing to ensure cardiopulmonary rehabilitation is more readily available for those with pulmonary hypertension? date: 2020-12-09 journal: Pulm Circ DOI: 10.1177/2045894020975312 sha: 19b204426e45d59f367b8e51f1155928dd6114ee doc_id: 1036138 cord_uid: ahvdq4rr nan "You need to exercise and stay active. . .a little breathlessness is alright. . .there is evidence to support its use . . . . visit your physiotherapist for a detailed exercise program"-How often have we said this to our patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), without realizing what it is that they feel about it or trying to understand why they have difficulties to carry out their exercise regime? A new paper by Chia and colleagues 1 in the current issue of Pulmonary Circulation has done just that-to identify the behaviors toward exercising, the potential barriers and facilitators, and the accessibility of these services through an international, online survey. Exercise intolerance is a cardinal feature of PH that is brought about the various physiological mechanisms. 2 Considering the benefits of exercise training on these physiological systems, 3 it has gained popularity as an adjunct to medical therapies with evidence from high-quality metaanalysis showing significant benefits on function and quality of life among those participating in exercise programs. 4 The availability of the growing body of evidence 5 has now resulted in exercise training receiving evidence-based recommendations in the recent PH guidelines, albeit of low quality. 6 Despite the growing popularity for exercise training in PH, not many centers still offer exercise training to those with PH. This has been thought to be due to the lack of awareness of the benefits of exercise among both healthcare professionals and patients. It is in this context that this study by Chia et al. elucidates to the patient and their experiences with exercise. The online survey conducted by Chia and colleagues 1 reached 202 participants from 19 countries around the world. With respondents coming mainly from Australia and New Zealand (over 60%) and targeted at welleducated, computer-literate individuals, the survey may represent a somewhat rosier view. However, the authors were able to collect both quantitative and qualitative data and reported that 77% of patients received information on the benefits of exercise-a surprisingly high percentage given the past reluctance to recommend exercise. Walking was most used by those with PH followed by supervised exercise sessions in the gym. Disconcertingly, more than half the respondents reported a previous adverse event during exercise and these individuals reported greater levels of anxiety regarding exercise participation. This anxiety may well impact enrollment and adherence to exercise programs. Therefore, the need to reassure patients on the safety of exercise in the real world setting, despite the low rates of adverse events with exercise training. 7 The authors have highlighted the need for a multidisciplinary rehabilitation service for PH as well, which supports the current evidence on exercise training. 3 Ideally, the multidisciplinary team should include various healthcare professionals (physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, psychologists, nurses, dieticians) and be tasked to perform various health-related assessments which would be beneficial to meet the rehabilitation needs of the patient and the primary physician (Table 1 ). 3 The fact that patients feel education, physiotherapy (i.e. exercise training), psychological support, and occupational therapy are important to the smooth delivery of a rehabilitation program suggests that the time is ripe for establishing multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams for PH lead by physical medicine specialists or cardiologists. As if the challenges in ensuring adequate focus and delivery of exercise-based programs were not enough, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought in new challenges to patient care in PH. 8 To ensure appropriate safety through social distancing, there is a need to ensure delivery of rehabilitation programs remain robust. One such method is through the use of a technologically driven model 9 which utilizes various forms of technology for the initial assessment, delivery of exercise, monitoring, and follow-up. However, very few models have been tested and there is a need to establish effective, safe, and culturally relevant models of rehabilitation, keeping in mind the facilitators to exercise while maintaining safety and social distancing in the context of the "new normal" during the pandemic. With patients perceiving exercise to be of benefit, now is the time for the PH community around the world to take up promoting and setting up rehabilitation programs for PH. However, their fears and concerns, such as those highlighted by Chia and colleagues, 1 need to be satisfactorily addressed. Perhaps the best approach is to take a leaf out of the book from cardiac rehabilitation which is well accepted by both clinicians and patients alike. 10 We therefore propose the following core components for PH rehabilitation: 1. Patient assessment through an interdisciplinary approach for evaluating physical, social, and psychological limitations to exercise. 2. Management of pulmonary pressures and co-morbidities by cardiologists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, and internal medicine specialists and supporting allied health and nursing staff. 3. Education and counseling by healthcare professionals through reading material, technology, online sources, or one-to-one sessions. 4. Psychological and social support by clinical psychologists and social workers to provide strategies on coping and social integration through peer support groups and psychosocial support. Physical activity counseling and exercise training by physiotherapists, exercise scientists, and rehabilitation counselors who will individualize each program to suit the needs and goals for each patient. 6. Functional training by occupational therapists who will work toward achieving independence in activities of daily living. 7. Nutritional counseling by dieticians and nutritionists to ensure adequate fluid balances and daily nutrient requirements are met. 8. Healthy living strategies by all healthcare professionals and healthy living practitioners. 11 In conclusion, this important study by Chia et al. 1 provides insight into the patient's perspective on exercise and PA and lays the foundation for much larger studies highlighting and targeting barriers to exercise training. PH centers could begin rehabilitation programs focusing on the core components and promoting interdisciplinarity for delivery of rehabilitation interventions. Modes of delivery and components should therefore become a priority which will help streamline and standardize rehabilitation care for PH across the world. An international survey on behaviour and attitudes to exercise in people living with pulmonary hypertension Exercise intolerance in pulmonary hypertension: mechanism, evaluation and clinical implications Evidence on exercise training in pulmonary hypertension Exercise-based rehabilitation programmes for pulmonary hypertension A review of exercise interventions in pulmonary arterial hypertension and recommendations for rehabilitation programing An official European Respiratory Society statement: pulmonary haemodynamics during exercise Effects of exercise training on exercise capacity in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a systematic review of clinical trials Care of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic COVID-19: a time for alternate models in cardiac rehabilitation to take centre stage Core components of cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programs: 2007 update: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Exercise, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Prevention Committee, the Council on Clinical Cardiology; the Councils on Cardiovascular Nursing, Epidemiology and Prevention, and Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism; and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Who will deliver comprehensive healthy lifestyle interventions to combat non-communicable disease? Introducing the healthy lifestyle practitioner discipline The author(s) declare that there is no conflict of interest. Dr. Abraham S. Babu Both authors created the first draft, modified and edited the subsequent versions, and finally approved the submission. This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.