Network Analysis on Family Resilience, Fear of Progression, and Quality of Life in Chinese Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The long-term quality of life of Chinese patients with pulmonary hypertension has been seriously compromised. Interventions to enhance patient quality of life of are urgently required.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between quality of life and its influencing factors in patients through network analysis.

METHOD: 247 patients with pulmonary hypertension in 3 hospitals in Jinan, Shandong Province, self-reported their immediate family resilience, fear of progression, and quality of life via questionnaires. A mixed graphical model was constructed to investigate the relationship among multidimensional structures of variables.

RESULTS: A total of 247 patients (173 female and 74 male) were included (age 18-34, n=115; age 35-49, n=99; age 50-64, n=23; age > 65 years, n=10). "Family communication and problem solving" was at the center of the network, with serving as a bridge node. Within communities, the strongest edge was "Family communication and problem solving-maintaining a positive outlook." Across communities, the strongest edge between family resilience and quality of life was "Family communication and problem solving-environmental domain quality of life," and the strongest edge across the fear of progression and quality of life was "physiological health fear-psychological domain quality of life."

CONCLUSIONS: Family resilience and fear of progression may affect the quality of life in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Developing a program with "family communication and problem solving" as a primary target may reduce patient fear of progression, enhance family resilience, and improve patient quality of life.