5-year demographic data of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension due to obstruction in pulmonary artery because of chronic thromboembolism is classified in fourth group of all sorts of pulmonary hypertension. This disease causes heavy burden and affects the quality of life of patients. In addition, the prevalence of CTEPH is increasing and this can lead to an upsurge in mortalities. Main symptoms of CTEPH are dyspnea, activity intolerance, chest pain, edema and syncope.

Materials and Methods: this is a retrospective cross sectional study of patients who referred to the pulmonary hypertension clinic of Imam Reza Hospital and were diagnosed with CTEPH. In order of collecting data a questionnaire containing all patients’ demographic information such as age, sex, history of deep vein embolism and thrombosis, clinical signs at the time of referral including dyspnea, chest pain, syncope and edema as well as patients’ hemodynamic findings was prepared. Also, echocardiographic findings performed by echo specialists and right heart catheterization data were gathered from recorded files.

Results: from 91 patients of this study, there were 47 males (51.6%) and 44 females (48.4%). mean age at this study was 53.57 years. 45.1% of these patients had history of pulmonary embolism, 11% had history of DVT and 13.2% had history of both. Most frequent symptom was dyspnea that was seen in 90.1% of patients (mostly function class 3). Other symptoms were edema (18.8%), syncope (6.3%) and chest pain (6.3%). Mean 6MWD was 292.69. mean echocardiographic and hemodynamic statistics are mentioned above in table 4 and 5. 58.2% were operable and 37.4% were operated (PEA). Causes of not being operable were distal involvement, co-morbidities, no consent to surgery and not having symptoms. mean age in our study and most of other studies is above fourth decade of life. Chiefly patients have a history of thromboembolic specifically pulmonary embolism. As mentioned in this study 58.2% patients were operable. In our study and previous studies, the major reasons of not being operable were distal involvement and co-morbidities. PVR of CTEPH patients is increased due to obstruction.