University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, 418 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104-4217, USA.
Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2012 Mar;11(1):51-61. doi: 10.1177/1474515111429649. Epub 2012 Jan 11.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressures leading to right heart failure and death.
The aim of this study was to use cluster analysis to describe the symptom profile in PAH and differences in the health outcomes of health status, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological states in the cluster groups.
A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. A convenience sample completed a socio-demographic and clinical data form, a PAH Symptom Severity and Interference Scale, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36), the United States Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (US CAMPHOR) and the Short Form of the Profile of Mood States (POMS).
Of the 151 participants, the mean age was 53.5 ± 15.1 with the majority female (n = 128, 85%). Fifty-eight (41%) were disabled and 67 (44%) were Functional Class IV. The most prevalent symptoms were shortness of breath with exertion (n = 149, 99%) and fatigue (n = 144, 93%). Three clusters emerged: Cluster 1 diffuse symptoms (n = 93), Cluster 2 severe cardiopulmonary symptoms (n = 32) and Cluster 3 moderate cardiopulmonary symptoms (n = 26). Overall, on the SF-36 the participants had poor general health, reduced physical function, role physical, vitality, and a low composite score for physical health. On the POMS the sample had limited vigor and increased fatigue. Cluster 2 Severe Cardiopulmonary Symptoms had worse SF-36, US CAMPHOR and POMS scores than the other cluster groups.
Patients with PAH are experiencing a constellation of symptoms that are interfering with their life and emerging clusters were present.
肺动脉高压（PAH）的特征是肺动脉压力升高，导致右心衰竭和死亡。
本研究旨在使用聚类分析描述 PAH 的症状特征，并比较聚类组之间健康状况、健康相关生活质量（HRQoL）和心理状态的健康结果差异。
采用横断面描述性设计。方便抽样法选取了 151 名参与者，他们填写了社会人口统计学和临床数据表格、PAH 症状严重程度和干扰量表、医疗结局研究短式量表（SF-36）、美国剑桥肺动脉高压预后评价（US CAMPHOR）和心境状态短式量表（POMS）。
在 151 名参与者中，平均年龄为 53.5 ± 15.1 岁，大多数为女性（n = 128，85%）。58 人（41%）残疾，67 人（44%）为功能分级 IV 级。最常见的症状是运动时呼吸困难（n = 149，99%）和疲劳（n = 144，93%）。共出现 3 个聚类：聚类 1 弥漫性症状（n = 93）、聚类 2 严重心肺症状（n = 32）和聚类 3 中度心肺症状（n = 26）。总体而言，SF-36 得分显示参与者的一般健康状况较差，身体功能、角色身体、活力降低，身体健康综合得分较低。POMS 得分显示参与者的活力有限，疲劳感增加。与其他聚类组相比，聚类 2 严重心肺症状组的 SF-36、US CAMPHOR 和 POMS 评分更差。
PAH 患者经历了一系列干扰生活的症状，并且出现了聚类现象。
