Abstract | Factors influencing the Quality of Life of Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension at a University Hospital

Factors influencing the Quality of Life of Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension at a University Hospital

Introduction: Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) are affected by symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, depression due to dependence on others, and limitations in daily life activities, etc.

Objectives: To study the factors that influence the quality of life (QoL) of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

Methods: This study employed a retrospective cross-sectional design using data from outpatient medical records of patients who attended the pulmonary vascular disease clinic (PVD Clinic) at a university hospital. The sample consisted of 78 patients aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with PAH or CTEPH between January 2024 and December 2025. A questionnaire, consisting of three parts, was used as the research instrument: demographic characteristics, health assessment, and emPHasis-10, QoL assessment scale. Data analysis used descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

Results: Patients with PAH had 64.1% and CTEPH had 35.9%. The assessment of patient QoL revealed that patients who underwent treatment over the 24-month period demonstrated a mean QoL score at a high level (M = 1.20, SD = 0.88). The factors that statistically significantly influenced QoL care among patients with PH (p < 0.05) included BMI, six-minute walk distance (6MWD), types of PH, physical limitation, Digoxin, and PAH-therapy. Collectively, these factors explained 28.8% (R² = 0.288) of the variance in patient’s QoL, with a standard error of the estimate of 2.79 (SEE = 2.79).

Conclusion: The identification of factors influencing QoL among patients with PH offers meaningful implications for the prevention and management of health problems from the initial stage of health assessment. Family members and healthcare professionals may utilize these findings to develop more effective healthcare strategies and policies. Ultimately, such efforts are expected to sustainably promote and enhance the QoL for this patient population.