Randomized trial demonstrates reduced cardiac effort in pulmonary arterial hypertension, suggesting benefits of supplemental oxygen during activity.
Key Points
This study aims to evaluate the physiologic effects of supplemental oxygen on cardiac effort during a six-minute walk test in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.
Single-center, prospective, blinded, crossover pilot study
Nineteen pulmonary arterial hypertension participants completed two six-minute walk tests with either supplemental oxygen or ambient air
Continuous electrocardiogram monitoring was performed to calculate cardiac effort and other parameters.
Supplemental oxygen increased post-walk oxygen saturation (91% vs 88%, p=0.004)
Cardiac Effort decreased significantly with oxygen (1.67 beats/m vs 1.73 beats/m, p=0.0001)
No significant changes were observed in six-minute walk distance or Borg Dyspnea Index.