Association of risk assessment at diagnosis with healthcare resource utilization and health‐related quality of life outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension

We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs, health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), and survival for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), stratified by 1‐year mortality risk at diagnosis. Adults diagnosed with PAH at the Sheffield Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit between 2012 and 2019 were included. Patients were categorized as low, intermediate, or high risk for 1‐year mortality at diagnosis. Demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, HCRU, costs, HRQoL, and survival were analyzed. Overall, 1717 patients were included: 72 (5%) at low risk, 941 (62%) at intermediate risk, and 496 (33%) at high risk. Low‐risk patients had lower HCRU prediagnosis and 1‐year postdiagnosis than intermediate‐ or high‐risk patients. Postdiagnosis, there were significant changes in HCRU, particularly inpatient hospitalizations and accident and emergency (A&E) visits among high‐risk patients. At 3 years postdiagnosis, HCRU for all measures was similar across risk groups. Low‐risk patients had lower EmPHasis‐10 scores (indicating better HRQoL) at diagnosis and at 1‐year follow‐up compared with intermediate‐ and high‐risk patients; only the score in the high‐risk group improved. Median overall survival decreased as risk category increased in analyzed subgroups. Low‐risk status was associated with better 1‐year survival and HRQoL compared with intermediate‐ and high‐risk patients. HCRU decreased in high‐risk patients postdiagnosis, with the most marked reduction in A&E admissions. The pattern of decreased per‐patient inpatient hospitalizations and A&E visits at 3 years postdiagnosis suggests that a diagnosis of PAH helps to decrease HCRU in areas that are key drivers of costs.