Dan-Mihai Dorobantu, Alexander van de Bruaene, Werner Budts, Barbara Cifra, Mark K. Friedberg, Peter Fritsch, Michael Khoury, Jan Müller, Alexander Opotowsky, Shubhayan Sanatani, Craig Williams, Georg Hansmann, Guido E. Pieles
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Trust and University of Exeter. University Hospitals Leuven and University of Leuven. Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto. Institute for Pediatric Cardiology. University of Alberta and Stollery Children’s Hospital. Technische Universität München. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Boston Children’s Hospital. British Columbia Children’s Hospital and University of British Columbia. Children’s Hospital at AKH General Hospital and Medical University of Vienna. Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital and University College London.
United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Austria, Germany, United States and Qatar
Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
J Heart Lung Transplant 2026;
DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2026.07.026
Abstract
Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) in children and adolescents carries a significant mortality and morbidity, despite existing specific therapies. Strategies to ameliorate disease and improve outcome but also quality of life are needed. As in other pathologies, exercise as treatment and rehabilitation tool has been recently investigated also in children and young adults with PH. While evidence is not complete, available studies show its benefits. Exercise programmes can improve quality of life, reduce morbidity and positively impact on outcome parameters. Importantly, there is limited evidence on safety of exercise in PH, in particular in the paediatric population. While there are risks associated to exercise in this patient group, lack of education and guidance are equally barriers to sports and exercise participation in children and young adults with PH. This expert consensus document from EPPVDN describes exercise pathophysiology in PH, reviews the latest evidence for exercise programmes, assesses the safety of exercise and sports and for the first time gives recommendations. It follows current guidance on level of evidence classification, for structured exercise programmes but also eligibility for competitive sports.
Category
Consensus Guidelines for Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Exercise
Quality of Life Associated with Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Fresh or Filed Publication: Fresh (PHresh). Less than 1-2 years since publication
Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: No