A multicenter clinical trial led by UTHealth Houston found that survivors of aortic dissection can participate in moderate-intensity exercise at home without increasing their risk of recurrent aortic events.
The study was recently published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes.
For decades, doctors have recommended that patients with aortic dissection limit physical activity because a sudden rise in blood pressure can cause a recurrent aortic event. To address this gap, researchers at UTHealth Houston Heart and Vascular evaluated whether guided home-based exercise programs can be safely incorporated into long-term recovery.
The previously active young patient became fearful of any activity, became fearful of exercise, atrophied, and developed depression and other health problems. This trial showed for the first time that exercise after aortic dissection is safe and even improves some aspects of cardiovascular health. ”
Siddharth Prakash, MD, principal investigator of the study and professor of cardiology at McGovern Medical School at UT Health Houston
This study provides early evidence that structured physical activity may be feasible and reassuring for survivors who want to regain strength and confidence.
Aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when a tear occurs in the inner wall of the body’s main artery, the aorta. This tear allows blood to flow between the layers of the aortic wall, creating a false pathway that can restrict blood flow to vital organs. Aortic dissection is often associated with chronic hypertension or conditions that weaken the aortic wall. There are two main types of aortic dissection, both of which were evaluated in this study. The study included patients with type A dissections, which begin in the ascending aorta near the heart and usually require emergency surgery, and patients with type B dissections, which occur in the descending aorta and are usually managed with medication and close monitoring.
From December 2022 to October 2024, researchers evaluated 93 adults at least three months after thoracic aortic dissection and randomly assigned them to either a guided exercise program or usual care. In the guided exercise group, random participants received individualized training in six exercise circuits and completed 12 months of home exercise with the support of virtual follow-up visits. Usual care participants received standardized exercise counseling and regular clinic visits.
The study found that there were no deaths, recurrent dissections, or aortic surgeries in either group over the study period. Exertional hypertension occurred in some supervised exercise participants during supervised training, which was successfully alleviated with exercise modification.
Importantly, the researchers observed no significant changes in ambulatory blood pressure or patient-reported quality of life scores between the guided exercise and usual care groups. The study also demonstrated strong feasibility, with 65 participants completing all study milestones and high adherence to the home-based program.
“What excites us most is what this research means for the daily lives of aortic dissection survivors. For many patients, the most difficult part of recovery is learning to trust their body again after a life-threatening event. Our findings suggest that with proper guidance, moderate exercise can safely help patients rebuild confidence, regain strength, and return to the activities that matter most,” said Nikhil Errabelli, a fourth-year medical student at McGovern School of Medicine.
The researchers emphasize that larger prospective trials are needed to assess long-term cardiovascular disease outcomes and refine exercise recommendations for this growing patient population.
“While our study is a big step in the right direction, future research is still needed to establish standardized guidelines, consider long-term safety, and determine patient-tailored treatments. Our hope is that continued research in this area will help survivors of aortic dissection achieve their exercise goals and improve overall health outcomes,” said Dipika Bhatia, a fourth-year medical student at McGovern School of Medicine.
This study highlights UTHealth Houston’s commitment to advancing evidence-based strategies to improve recovery, quality of life, and long-term health for people living with complex cardiovascular disease.
Other authors include Kayla House and Yasmin Toy of McGovern Medical School. Dr. Michelle Lim, Department of Cardiology, Central Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Leslie Boyer and Dr. Alan Braverman of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; Kim Eagle, M.D., Marion Hoffman Bowman, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Michigan;
sauce:
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Reference magazines:
Bhatia, D., Others. (2026). Safety and feasibility of moderate-intensity home-based guided exercise in US aortic dissection survivors: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Circulation: cardiovascular quality and outcomes. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.126.013292. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.126.013292
