The two main highlights of this edition are the report of the UK Pulmonary Hypertension survey on what symptoms affect patients most (pages 9-12) and the association’s 25th anniversary celebrations in Birmingham (pages 16-18).
For the survey there were 232 responses from patients and 35 responses from caregivers.
KEY FINDINGS – THE PATIENT VIEW
MOST IMPACTFUL SYMPTOMS
The symptoms that have impacted patients the most over the last year are breathlessness, fatigue, and tiredness.
BREATHLESSNESS
- 63% have been impacted the most by breathlessness on exertion / exercise.
- 49% have been impacted the most by breathlessness whilst carrying out daily tasks (such as washing and dressing).
FATIGUE & TIREDNESS: 55% have been impacted the most by fatigue and tiredness.
Respondents said weather (extreme cold or heat), stress, and sleep have the biggest impact on the fluctuation of symptoms.
KEY FINDINGS – THE CAREGIVER VIEW
The most common symptoms that caregivers have noticed their loved ones have experienced over the last year are breathlessness, fatigue, tiredness and sleepiness, and cough. The symptoms that caregivers say have impacted their loved ones the most over the last year breathlessness, fatigue, and tiredness.
Fatigue, which is often overlooked in terms of treatment priority, was described by patients as a severe and persistent symptom. This study provided strong, real-world evidence that clinical prioritisation needs to reflect this.
Read the PHA UK magazine online at this link: