Effect of Living Environment Factors on Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension After Completion of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty　― A Cross-Sectional Study ―

Background: This study investigated factors related to quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension who completed balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA). Methods and Results: Patient QoL and living environment after BPA were evaluated prospectively using the 5-level EQ-5D questionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Environmental Module (IPAQ-E), respectively. Patients were mailed copies of both surveys. In addition, we reviewed patient charts and collected retrospective clinical data. Relationship between the clinical data and QoL and environmental living factors were investigated. Of the 33 subjects mailed the surveys, sufficient responses were obtained from 22 (71%). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient showed that psychiatric disorders (r=−0.6865, P<0.01) and IPAQ-E Question 5 (r=0.5192, P=0.02), Question 6 (r=0.5265, P=0.02), and Question 13 (r=0.4552, P=0.04) were significantly correlated with EQ-5D scores after BPA. Conclusions: A living environment that was difficult to walk around was associated with a worse QoL. A multidisciplinary approach will be required to improve QoL even after completion of BPA treatment.