Evaluating the burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension from patient reported changes in work patterns: Results from a Canadian patient survey

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) experience significant disruptions to their quality of life, resulting in major socioeconomic consequences. This study evaluates the frequency of changes to work patterns for PAH patients. <bold>Methods:</bold> We performed a cross-sectional study of symptomatic adult patients (≥18 years) with self-reported Group 1 PAH, using surveys distributed between 15-08-2023 and 9-10-2023. Burden of disease was described using self-reported New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (FC) and the EQ-5D visual analogue scale (VAS). Changes in work patterns were assessed according to FC, age, and sex. <bold>Results:</bold> 217 patients were included. Most patients were female (84%) and White (84%) with a median age of 60 years (IQR 46, 68). The EQ-5D VAS decreased with increasing FC (I to IV): mean values (SD) were 82.4 (9.6), 66.0 (17.2), 51.5 (17.9), and 42.0 (24.3), respectively. Due to PAH, 61.3% of patients worked fewer hours, with 44.5% converting from full-time to part-time work. Patients <65 years of age experienced more frequent changes to work patterns, while patients ≥65 years more commonly resigned from work or retired early. Figure 1 denotes changes in work pattern by FC. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Detrimental changes to work patterns among patients with PAH are commonly reported, highlighting the socioeconomic burden of this disease. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA2511/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>