Pulmonary hypertension and measurement of exercise capacity remotely: evaluation of the 1-min sit-to-stand test (PERSPIRE) – a cohort study

Background Multiparameter risk assessment is recommended to aid treatment decisions in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. The 1-min sit-to-stand test (1MSTS) has been validated for use in other respiratory illnesses. The aim of this study was to evaluate its safety in the hospital setting and potential utility in remote assessment in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Methods In a prospective cohort study design patients performed the 1MSTS and incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) on the same day. The primary aim of the study was to assess safety signals and correlations with other metrics used in risk assessment.

Results 60 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and 15 with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension were enrolled. No adverse events were recorded. Post-test change in physiological parameters was lower for the 1MSTS than for the ISWT in heart rate (mean±sd change +9.4±8.0 versus +38.3±25.9 beats per min, p<0.001), oxygen saturation (−3.8±4.0% versus −8.9±7.3%, p<0.01) and systolic blood pressure (+10.1±10.5 versus +17.7±19 mmHg, p<0.001). There were significant correlations between the 1MSTS and ISWT (r=0.702, p<0.01), World Health Organization functional class (r= −0.449, p<0.01), emPHAsis-10 (−0.436, p<0.001) and N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide (r= −0.270, p=0.022). 97% of patients were willing to perform the test at home.

Conclusion This study has demonstrated the safety, sub-maximal characteristics of the 1MSTS in pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in the hospital setting, its positive correlation with the ISWT and potential role in remote risk assessment. Further evaluation of this exercise test is now warranted.