From survival to lifelong care: The role of patient organisations in aortic dissection.

Survival after an acute aortic dissection (AAD) has improved significantly in recent decades. However, for most patients hospital discharge marks the beginning of lifelong surveillance rather than recovery. AAD survivors face persistent risks of late complications, strict blood pressure control, repeated imaging, and considerable psychological burden. Patient organisations may address these gaps by providing peer support, practical education, and continuity across healthcare settings. By translating medical recommendations into daily practice and facilitating engagement with care and research, such organisations can complement routine clinical follow-up. This need may be particularly relevant in healthcare systems with large and diverse populations, where continuity of specialist care is variable. Recognising patient organisations as partners in survivorship may contribute to more comprehensive, patient-centred management after aortic dissection.