A French multicenter trial (9 centers, 2015–2022) tested whether a 3-month supervised rehabilitation program improves 12-month exercise capacity in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, using a Zelen design to limit performance bias — addressing a gap left by prior short-term, open-label studies.
Key findings:
- 47 stable patients randomized (mostly low-risk, good baseline function); 21 assigned to rehabilitation
- At 12 months, endurance time roughly doubled in the rehabilitation group (16.8 ± 20.0 min) vs. controls (8.0 ± 7.2 min) — statistically significant (p=0.047)
- Clinical worsening trended lower with rehabilitation (RR 0.17), just short of significance (p=0.055)
- No deaths in either group
Conclusion: A 3-month supervised rehabilitation program produced a durable, significant improvement in exercise endurance at one year in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, with a possible reduction in clinical worsening — supporting rehabilitation as a valuable adjunct to standard pulmonary arterial hypertension care.
Read more at this link on the Annals of American Thoracic Society
Citation
Bertoletti L, Turquier S, Bouvaist H, Tromeur C, Enache I, Seronde MF, Dauphin C, Diesler R, Noirclerc M, Couturaud F, Bezzeghoud S, Assante C, Chapelle C, Boissin C, Montani D, Cottin V, Pison C, Costes F, Hupin D; FONCE-HTAP investigators. Long-term efficacy and safety of rehabilitation in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: the FONCE-HTAP randomized controlled trial. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2026 Jul 20:aaoag193. doi: 10.1093/annalsats/aaoag193. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42474242.