Safety, Efficacy and Treatment Satisfaction in Patients With PAH Rapidly Switched From Epoprostenol to Remodulin

The Borg dyspnea score is a 10-point scale rating the maximum level of dyspnea experienced during the 6-minute walk test. The Borg dyspnea score was assessed immediately following the 6-minute walk test. Scores ranged from 0 (for no shortness of breath) to 10 (for greatest shortness of breath ever experienced).

Class I: Patients with pulmonary hypertension but without resulting limitation of physical activity. Ordinary physical activity does not cause undue dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near syncope.

Class II: Patients with pulmonary hypertension resulting in slight limitation of physical activity. These patients are comfortable at rest, but ordinary physical activity causes undue dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain or near syncope.

Class III: Patients with pulmonary hypertension resulting in marked limitation of physical activity. They are comfortable at rest. Ordinary activity causes undue dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near syncope.

Class IV: Patients with pulmonary hypertension with inability to carry out any physical activity without symptoms. These patients manifest signs of right heart failure. Dyspnea and/or fatigue may be present even at rest. Discomfort is increased by any physical activity.

The presence or absence of dyspnea was documented. If present, the intensity of dyspnea was rated mild, moderate, or severe.

The presence or absence of edema was documented. If present, the intensity of edema was rated mild, moderate, or severe.

The presence or absence of orthopnea was documented. If present, the intensity of orthopnea was rated mild, moderate, or severe.

The presence or absence of dizziness was documented. If present, the intensity of dizziness was rated mild, moderate, or severe.

The presence or absence of fatigue was documented. If present, the intensity of fatigue was rated mild, moderate, or severe.

The presence or absence of syncope was documented. If present, the intensity of syncope was rated mild, moderate, or severe.

The presence or absence of chest pain was documented. If present, the intensity of chest pain was rated mild, moderate, or severe.

The Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) is a validated instrument that measures four major dimensions of patient satisfaction with medications: effectiveness, side effects, convenience, and global satisfaction. TSQM Scale scores are computed by adding the items loading on each factor. The lowest possible score is subtracted from this composite score and divided by the greatest possible score minus the lowest possible score. This provided a transformed score between 0 and 1 that should be multiplied by 100 (scale 0-100). A low score indicates low satisfaction and a high score indicates high satisfaction with treatment.

The Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) is a validated instrument that measures four major dimensions of patient satisfaction with medications: effectiveness, side effects, convenience, and global satisfaction. TSQM Scale scores are computed by adding the items loading on each factor. The lowest possible score is subtracted from this composite score and divided by the greatest possible score minus the lowest possible score. This provided a transformed score between 0 and 1 that should be multiplied by 100 (scale 0-100). A low score indicates low satisfaction and a high score indicates high satisfaction with treatment.

The Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) is a validated instrument that measures four major dimensions of patient satisfaction with medications: effectiveness, side effects, convenience, and global satisfaction. TSQM Scale scores are computed by adding the items loading on each factor. The lowest possible score is subtracted from this composite score and divided by the greatest possible score minus the lowest possible score. This provided a transformed score between 0 and 1 that should be multiplied by 100 (scale 0-100). A low score indicates low satisfaction and a high score indicates high satisfaction with treatment.

The Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) is a validated instrument that measures four major dimensions of patient satisfaction with medications: effectiveness, side effects, convenience, and global satisfaction. TSQM Scale scores are computed by adding the items loading on each factor. The lowest possible score is subtracted from this composite score and divided by the greatest possible score minus the lowest possible score. This provided a transformed score between 0 and 1 that should be multiplied by 100 (scale 0-100). A low score indicates low satisfaction and a high score indicates high satisfaction with treatment.

The Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (CAMPHOR) is a health related quality of life instrument specific to PAH. The total score can range from 0 -75; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.

Subjects were asked to compare their symptoms of PAH as compared to 8 weeks prior and rate as much better, somewhat better, about the same, somewhat worse, or much worse.

Subjects were asked to compare their previous experience with Flolan and rate how much time was spent dealing with intravenous Remodulin therapy as much less, somewhat less, about the same, somewhat more, or much more.

Subjects were asked to compare their previous experience with Flolan and rate satisfaction with intravenous Remodulin therapy over the past two weeks as much more satisfied, more satisfied, about the same, less satisfied, or much less satisfied.