The European Voice of the Patient living with pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease: Diagnosis, symptoms, impacts, and treatments.

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) adds a substantial disease burden, including higher mortality, when associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD), a severe, chronic, progressive condition. Yet little is known of the lived experiences, perspectives, priorities, and viewpoints of patients and carers living with PH-ILD. The Voice of the Patient meeting at the center of this qualitative research study aims to provide these difficult-to-obtain insights from a European perspective for the first time. The multistakeholder approach brought together four PH-ILD patients, three primary caregivers, two patient associations, clinical experts, sponsor representatives, and a facilitator. Of the six major themes identified in the thematic analysis, symptoms, and physical limitations were the most impactful. Shortness of breath was the most bothersome symptom affecting patients daily. Further symptoms included fatigue, cough, dizziness, syncope, edema, and palpitations. Physical limitations focused on reduced mobility, impacting patients' ability to perform daily tasks, hobbies, sports, and to enjoy travel. Existing antifibrotic and pulmonary arterial hypertension-targeted treatments were perceived as beneficial. However, despite advances in treatment, severe disease burdens and high unmet medical needs persist from the perspectives of patients. Most meaningful to patients' daily wellbeing was supplemental oxygen, enabling greater mobility. Patients and carers reported difficulties and barriers in navigating the healthcare system and obtaining adequate information to reduce their considerable uncertainties, documenting the substantial challenges that rare and complex conditions such as PH-ILD pose for routine clinical practice beyond PH expert centers and indicating an urgent need for high-quality patient- and clinician-directed information to support patient-centered care.