Living with PH: Longer and Better
Citation: Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension 8, 4; 10.21693/1933-088X-8.4.194a
Living with PH in the current era is complicated for patients and providers, but full of hope. Although we are still far from a cure, multiple FDA-approved medications, investigational agents, and advances in diagnostic techniques along with a greater understanding of disease mechanisms are helping patients live longer. In addition to increasing patients' length of life, the focus of the multidisciplinary PH team is to help patients live better by adapting to their illness and treatment regimens.
How should we assess patients' satisfaction with their lives? In this issue of Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension, Ann Gihl reviews the instruments that have been used to assess quality of life and the current literature on health-related quality of life in PH.
As in many other chronic diseases, depression may occur as a comorbid condition. Because of their close and longterm contact with PH patients, PH providers are well positioned to recognize depressive symptoms. Deborah McCollister and Dr Philippe Weintraub present a quick screening tool that can help us recognize depression and describe interventions to improve our patients' quality of life.
Once a treatment plan has been prescribed and implemented, patients must adhere to it. The patient must accept the therapy, feel that success is possible, and integrate it into their daily lives. Traci Stewart addresses barriers to medication adherence and interventions to improve adherence.
Targeted therapy for PAH has now been available for almost 15 years, allowing more and more of our pediatric patients to grow into adulthood. Michelle Ogawa and Darci Albrecht propose strategies to facilitate the transition of these patients from pediatric to adult care settings.
The roundtable discussion with panelists Karen Frutiger, Martha Kingman, and Abby Poms explores how allied healthcare professionals assist patients with the complex decisions to be made about PH treatment and care.
On behalf of the entire team of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of our PH patients, as guest editor of this issue my thanks go to Dr Channick and the Advances Editorial Board for giving us the opportunity to share our perspectives with you in the spirit of true multidisciplinary collaborative practice.