Twenty-four patients with PAH (24 female; age: 54.4 ± 10.4 years; BMI: 30.8 ± 7.2
kg/m2
) participated in the study. A convenience sample was recruited in which 9% (28 of 303) of
screened patients were enrolled. The project was carried out in a clinical pulmonary rehabilitation
clinic during existing pulmonary rehabilitation program sessions.
Patients with PH were randomized into a 10-week program that consisted of patient education
only or patient education plus an aerobic exercise-training regimen. Both groups received 20
lectures, two per week over the 10-weeks, on topics related to PAH and its management. The
aerobic exercise training consisted of 24–30 sessions of treadmill walking for 30–45 min per
session at an intensity of 70–80% of heart rate reserve, three days per week over the 10 weeks.