The importance of psychosocial factors in management of pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is significantly reshaping personal and professional lives of patients due to its chronic nature, varying clinical profile and uncertain perspectives of treatment. PAH is at this time an incurable disease, which requires to consider not only strictly medical dimension, but also the psychosocial aspects of care. This paper discusses therefore the psychological problems most commonly reported by PAH patients. It reviews the instruments used to assess them. We describe the relationships between the quality of life and depressive symptoms and the physical activity of the PAH patients, which have deep treatment-related consequences. The process of transition of teenage PAH patients into the adult care system is another sensitive phase, which requires careful preparation, individualised medical, psychosocial and educational approach, specific for the organisation of the Polish healthcare system. Palliative care of PAH patients has also been described, as it represents an integral part of treatment of this life-limiting disease. Swift recognition and adequate management of emotional and cognitive disruptions in PAH patients may contribute to their better co-operation with therapists, improvements in quality of life thus contributing to improved treatment outcomes.