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Title:
Physical capacity, socioeconomic status and quality of life in patients with pulmonary hypertension
Author:
Subject:
socioeconomic status ; quality of life
Abstract:
METHODSThe study included 56 consecutive patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), including 36 patients (10 men, 26 women) with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), and 20 patients (10 men, 10 women) with Eisenmenger's syndrome. The following were the subject of detailed scientific analysis the quality of life assessed (QoL), socioeconomic status and exercise capacity.RESULTSPatients with IPAH at the time of entering the study were higher in WHO functional class than patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome (2.9 ± 0.58 vs 2.4 ± 0.59, p <0.001), they achieved shorter walking distance (336 [298-392] vs 418 [360-470], p=0,006) and a lower maximum oxygen consumption at peak exercise in spiroergometric test (11.8 [8.6- 14.0] vs 15.6 [12.7-18.0], p = 0.002). Physical dimension of QoL was impaired in 83.9% of patients, including in 91.7% of patients with IPAH and in 70% of patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome (p = 0.08). Psychological dimension of QoL was impaired in 46.4% of the studied patients, including 47.2% of patients with IPAH and 45% of patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome (p = 0.9). Patients with PAH had a lower socioeconomic status than the general population.CONCLUSIONSPatients with PAH have a lower socioeconomic status than the general population. The majority of patients with PAH is characterized by impaired quality of life in the physical dimension ; and nearly half - also in the psychological dimension. Application of specific treatment for pulmonary hypertension in patients with a significantly reduced quality of life improves its physical dimension and a sense of psychological health.