Psychosocial Aspects of Pulmonary Hypertension: A Review

Support Experienced by Patients Living with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

“…The interviews were all carried out from January 2012 to 1 October 2012 and were held in the patient's home (10) or at a neutral office in a healthcare facility (7). A verbatim transcription of tape-recorded interviews was made later.…”

“…Patients with PAH or CTEPH should be given hope. This however should not deter healthcare professionals from communicating prognosis and in appropriate time, to provide an opportunity to discuss palliative care and end-of-life issues [10].…”

Holistic Care for Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension

“…1 In this case, the palliative care team was consulted early and was able to help create a plan to support the management of all aspects of Ms. O.…”

“…Previously, the disease's mortality rate was about 50% over 2.8 years and life expectancy was approximately 4 years from the onset of symptoms. 1 Over the last decade there have been major improvements in the medical management of PAH with the introduction of specific treatments for PAH including prostanoids, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, and endothelin receptor antagonists. As a result, disease progression is delayed in some cases.…”

“…Anxiety, depression, difficulty maintaining relationships, difficulty with body image, change in lifestyle, and financial struggles are a few examples. 1 Furthermore, by the time patients are diagnosed with the disease, most have been seen by multiple providers at multiple institutions, which can be emotionally burdensome. 2 Given the complexities of this disease and the fragility of its treatment, a paradigm shift is emerging in the medical management of the disease toward one of holistic patient-centered care, with the hope of improving patient engagement, compliance, and overall outcomes.…”