Canadians with PH face long diagnostic delays, prompting a call for improved healthcare practices
A new report titled ‘A Canadian Initiative: Exploring Adult Pulmonary Hypertension’ highlights significant delays in diagnosing pulmonary hypertension (PH) in Canada.
A patient advocate living with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) recounts seeing numerous specialists over many years before receiving a diagnosis, stressing, “PH was never on their radars as a potential diagnosis, and it should have been.”
RESPIPLUS, in collaboration with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Canada, the Canadian Thoracic Society, and the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada, developed this investigation with input from key opinion leaders, scientific experts, and patients.
PH is a serious condition characterized by elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries, increasing the workload on the right side of the heart.
Causes include idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, rheumatological diseases, liver diseases, left heart diseases, lung diseases, and chronic thromboembolic disease.
Thousands of Canadians suffer from PH, and the diagnosis process can be lengthy and challenging, severely impacting their quality of life.
The report uses expert interviews, survey data, and patient testimonials to highlight the urgent need for better awareness and diagnostic procedures.
Key findings from the survey and expert interviews include significant care gaps: diagnostic delays, long wait times for specialist referrals, and inadequate access to specialized PH centres due to distance.
Lisa Mielniczuk, a cardiologist, noted the challenges faced by patients in northern Canada, stating, “It's very difficult for our patients in the northern parts of Canada to come. Some of them are very sick.”
“The thought of having to drive 8-10 hours to come and see us, it's just too hard for them physically. Alternatively, getting on a plane is also not easy for them, particularly if they're on oxygen. It's definitely proportional to the level of disability or illness of the patient.”
The report urges industry, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public to address critical issues in PH care in Canada. It recommends strategies like medical therapies, lifestyle changes, and supportive care.
Key areas for improvement include timely diagnosis, access to specialized care, and patient education.
