Management of adult patients with PAH in Spain: current practice, resources, and needs (AIRE17 Study)

Abstract

Introduction and objectivesThe objective of this study was to analyze, based on the opinion of healthcare professionals, human and material resources dedicated to the clinical management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) as well as the needs and areas for improvement in the care of these patients in Spain. MethodsA cross-sectional and multicenter study based on a survey was designed. Participants were physicians involved in the management of PAH. They completed an ad hoc 28-item questionnaire. ResultsTwenty specialists completed the questionnaire (45% pulmonologists, 35% cardiologists 15% specialists in internal medicine, and 5% pediatric cardiologists), 75% of whom developed their professional activity in a pulmonary hypertension unit pulmonary hypertension (PH), with a median experience of 11.5 years. A total of 75% manifested that a unit of PH was available at the hospital, with a mean number of 19.8+/- 42.0 new patients seen in 2015 (mean +/- SD). Ninety percent of participants reported the possibility to facilitate access to genetic counseling for their PAH patients. Adherence to the current guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS), specifically regarding the diagnosis of PAH, was 90%. Three areas for improvement were identified by 2/3rd of respondents: the availability of technical and human resources, continuing education and access barriers to drug prescription. ConclusionsPAH management in Spain is mainly undertaken by PH hospital units, where healthcare is provided in accordance with the current standards. Structural deficiencies have been identified in this analysis, which should be actively addressed in future improvement strategies.