Effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Versus Standard Care in Patients With Pericarditis

Comparative Effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Versus Standard Care on Pain, Dyspnea, Cough Severity, Fatigue, and Anxiety in Patients With Pericarditis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pericarditis is associated with symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, fatigue, cough, and anxiety, which can significantly impair functional capacity and quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a structured intervention designed to improve respiratory function and overall physical performance. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation versus standard care in improving clinical symptoms and functional outcomes in patients with pericarditis.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Pericarditis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Pulmonary Rehabilitation; Other: Standard Care

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the comparative effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation and standard care in patients diagnosed with pericarditis. Participants are allocated into two groups: an intervention group receiving pulmonary rehabilitation and a control group receiving standard medical care.

Pulmonary rehabilitation includes breathing exercises, aerobic training, and patient education aimed at improving respiratory efficiency and reducing symptom burden. Such programs are widely used to improve functional capacity and quality of life in clinical populations [1].

Outcome measures include pain intensity, dyspnea, cough severity, fatigue, and anxiety, assessed using validated tools such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and McMaster Cough Severity Questionnaire.

Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after completion of the intervention period.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
      • ULTH

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Diagnosed with pericarditis Age between 18-65 years Both male and female participants Medically stable Able to participate in rehabilitation Willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Severe cardiovascular or respiratory instability Other major pulmonary diseases Recent surgery or trauma Neurological disorders affecting participation Unwillingness to participate

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Pulmonary Rehabilitation Group; Participants receive a structured pulmonary rehabilitation program including breathing exercises, aerobic training, and education sessions.	Other: Pulmonary Rehabilitation; A structured program including breathing exercises, aerobic conditioning, and patient education administered over multiple weeks.
Active Comparator: Standard Care Group; Routine clinical management as prescribed by the treating physician without additional rehabilitation protocol.	Other: Standard Care; Routine clinical management as prescribed by the treating physician without additional rehabilitation protocol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dyspnea Severity	Measured using Visual Analog Scale (VAS)	Baseline and 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain Intensity	Measured using VAS	Baseline and 8 weeks
Cough Severity	Measured using McMaster Cough Severity Questionnaire	Baseline and 8 weeks
Fatigue	Measured using VAS or standardized fatigue scale	Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Anxiety	Measured using a validated anxiety scale	Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Lahore

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 11, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 16, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 16, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 21, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Anxiety; Fatigue; Pulmonary Rehabilitation; Cough; Dyspnea; Pericarditis; Chest Pain
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Cardiovascular Diseases; Mental Disorders; Heart Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Anxiety Disorders; Fatigue; Pericarditis; Cough; Dyspnea; Chest Pain; Health Services Administration; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Quality of Health Care; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Standard of Care
• Other Study ID Numbers: UOL/IREB/25/15/03/21

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared because this study was conducted as an academic research project. The informed consent obtained from participants did not include provisions for public data sharing, and the dataset contains sensitive personal health information. Data will be stored securely and used only for academic and research purposes in accordance with institutional ethics approval.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No