Clinical evaluation of pulmonary arterial hypertension using
patient-reported outcomes: a cross-sectional study
Abstract
Rationale, aims and objectives Patients with pulmonary arterial
hypertension (PAH) have progressive and disabling symptoms, as well as a
burden of treatments and a difficult clinical evaluation that make
health-related quality of life a particularly relevant endpoint in this
disease. The objective of our study was to evaluate patient-reported
outcomes of patients receiving specific treatment for PAH in a tertiary
hospital using a specific questionnaire (Cambridge Pulmonary
Hypertension Outcome Review-CAMPHOR). Methods A cross-sectional,
observational, descriptive study was conducted. It included all patients
receiving specific treatment for PAH in a tertiary hospital in Madrid,
Spain. The inclusion period comprised between August to December 2019.
CAMPHOR questionnaires containing three domains: symptoms, activities
and quality of life were completed by the patients at the pharmacy
consultation. Demographic and clinical variables, including WHO
Functional Class (WHO FC), PAH-specific tests and hemodynamic
parameters, were recorded. Non-parametric analyses to assess relations
between variables and CAMPHOR domains were performed. Results Thirty-six
patients consented to participate in the study and completed the
questionnaire. Median scores for symptoms, activities, and quality of
life domains were 5.5 (2.5 – 10), 8.0 (4.5 – 10.5) and 3.5 (1 – 7.5),
respectively. Statistically significant differences were found in the
three domains when comparing by WHO FC, in the activities domain for
6-meters walking test and in the quality of life domain for patients who
had emergency visits or hospitalizations in the last year. Conclusions
The CAMPHOR questionnaire could be useful as a complementary test to
achieve an integrated evaluation of PAH patients, who could complete it
easily during their routine pharmacy visits.