Early Rehabilitation Program to Improve Recovery in Adults Hospitalized with Acute Pulmonary Embolism

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether an early, structured rehabilitation program can help patients hospitalized with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism PE avoid long-term problems like reduced quality of life, decreased physical capacity, and ongoing symptoms such as shortness of breath. This study focuses on patients at high risk for impaired quality of life three months after their PE diagnosis despite receiving standard blood thinner treatment. The goal is to see if this rehabilitation approach can prevent these lasting effects. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups one group will take part in a 6- to 8-week, center-based exercise-based rehabilitation program that includes 16 to 18 supervised sessions of aerobic and strength training, plus two educational sessions about PE, its treatment, and symptom management. The other group will receive usual care without the rehabilitation program. This early rehabilitation starts within four weeks of diagnosis and is tailored to each patients abilities and needs. Throughout 180 days, participants will be monitored for changes in their quality of life, physical exercise capacity using tests like the six-minute walk, breathlessness, psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression, and how quickly they return to work or usual daily activities. Researchers will collect data at baseline, 90 days, and 180 days after randomization to compare outcomes between the groups. Safety, adherence, and patient education are also important parts of the study.

Early Exercise-Based Rehabilitation in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Pulmonary Embolism