Effects of inspiratory muscle training on the sensation of dyspnea in patients with pulmonary hypertension group I and IV - Randomized controlled clinical trial

The symptoms as fatigue and dyspnea are common in pulmonary hypertension (PH) and they impact in the exercise capacity and quality of life of patients. Also, the inspiratory muscle weak impairment potentiates these symptoms. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) demonstrates beneficial outcomes in a number of cardiovascular populations. Aims – Evaluate baseline and post-exercise dyspnea in patients with PH after TMI. Method: We investigated 12 women (NYHA class II-III) with PH group I and IV with inspiratory muscle weakness who were clinically stable. The subjects were randomized into two groups: Training (IMT: n=6) and Sham (S-IMT n=6). IMT was conducted with a moderate load 50-60% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) while S-IMT used constant load of 10 cmH2O. Subjects in both groups trained with device Power Breathe® Plus, 7 days per week, twice a day, 2 sets of 30 breaths (8-10 minutes/control breathing) at home and once a week in the hospital to adjust the resistance of IMT group. Pulmonary function, exercise capacity, dyspnea and respiratory strength were assessed, pre- and post-training and adherence. Results and Conclusions: There is increase in MIP and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) in both groups (-121 ± 23.4 versus -70.4 ± 22 cmH2O, P