Searching for the least invasive parameters used as predictors of survival in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract

IPAH is a debilitating disease that is not curable and needs regular long term monitoring, where the gold standard for diagnosing and monitoring patients, is right heart catheter. Aim: Searching for the least invasive parameters possible to use as predictors of survival in IPAH patients Methodology: The study included 14 IPAH patients, for all PASP, SpO2, 6MWD, FC, PHQ9 depression score and targeted treatment pattern were assessed and the overall survival in 12, 24, 36, and 48 months in relation to the mentioned parameters was calculated. Results: The overall survival was 64.29% in 12 months following diagnosis, 56.25% in 24 months, 46.88% in 36 months and 35.16% in 48 months. The overall survival was only statistically significant in the groups of depression measured by PHQ-9. Most patients presented in functional class II and III. Though SpO2, 6MWD and mono Versus combined therapy did not show statistical significance in the overall survival, yet there was obvious higher overall survival in patients with SpO2 ⩾ 90%, 6MWD > 300 m and in first year of treatment with combined therapy. Conclusion: The most significant parameter affecting survival was depression score using PHQ-9. It was also observed that the highest mortality was in the first year of diagnosis although it was not statistically significant. Thus, a wider scale study is needed for the idiopathic pulmonary hypertension patients to better assess their survival pattern.

Keywords

• IPAH
• Survival
• 6MWD
• Depression