World PH Day spotlights the global impact of pulmonary hypertension

May 5 is World PH Day, which aims to raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension and its global impact.

Pulmonary hypertension is often underdiagnosed and misunderstood or misdiagnosed. While there is currently no cure for pulmonary hypertension, early diagnosis and treatment access can improve patients’ quality of life and overall life expectancy. The average length of survival without treatment is under 3 years, according to a press release from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

Pulmonary hypertension can exist alone or in association with other conditions such as connective tissue disorders, COPD and sarcoidosis; it has also been associated with methamphetamine use. In the United States, pulmonary hypertension is most associated with left heart disease.

This year, the World PH Day theme is “Pulmonary Hypertension Has No Borders.” Pulmonary hypertension can impact anyone, regardless of age, sex, race/ethnicity or social background, according to the release.

In recognition of World PH Day, the Healio Editors have compiled the most-read pulmonary hypertension news in 2022.

Highlights include a study on the value of remote 6-minute walk testing; the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with pulmonary hypertension; a study on the impact of pulmonary hypertension in kidney transplant recipients; new research on the high mortality burden and premature deaths in mild pulmonary hypertension; data on the transition to powder inhaled treprostinil; and more.

Read these articles, and others, below, in no particular order.

Remote 6-minute walk testing may be valid in pulmonary hypertension

Remote 6-minute walk testing was consistent with standardized clinic walks and may be valid in pulmonary testing, researchers reported in the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine. Read more

Types, outcomes of pulmonary hypertension differ substantially between children and adults

Among pediatric patients in the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Network, nearly half had group 3 disease, defined as pulmonary hypertension associated with lung disease or hypoxia. Read more

Obstructive sleep apnea common in pulmonary hypertension

In a new study, researchers reported obstructive sleep apnea is common in patients with pulmonary hypertension, and risk factors include older age, male sex and lower daytime arterial oxygen pressure. Read more

Musculoskeletal pain common in patients with PAH

Musculoskeletal pain is common in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and significantly affects quality of life and physical function. Read more

Pulmonary hypertension common in kidney transplant recipients

Patients with pulmonary hypertension who underwent kidney transplantation had similar posttransplant outcomes at 5 years compared with those without pretransplant pulmonary hypertension. Read more

Study finds high mortality burden, premature deaths with mild pulmonary hypertension

Individuals with mildly elevated estimated right ventricular systolic pressure had a high burden of mortality and consequential premature deaths. Read more

Hispanic patients with PAH have more ED visits, hospitalizations but no survival difference

Hispanic ethnicity was not associated with survival differences in pulmonary arterial hypertension despite a “disadvantageous social determinants of health profile,” researchers reported in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Read more

Transition to dry powder inhaled treprostinil safe, tolerable for patients with PAH

Transition from nebulized inhaled treprostinil to a dry powder inhaled formulation was safe, well tolerated and led to significant improvements in clinical and patient-reported outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Read more

Early initiation of prostanoid therapy yields favorable outcome in children with PAH

In children with pulmonary arterial hypertension, early initiation of IV or subcutaneous parenteral prostanoid therapy, higher doses of therapy and when combined with additional PAH therapy were associated with favorable outcomes. Read more

Differential treatment response does not explain higher survival in patients with obesity, PAH

Differential treatment response may not explain the survival benefit seen in some patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and obesity, researchers reported in Chest. Read more

Reference:

World PH Day Raises Awareness for Pulmonary Hypertension’s Global Impact. Published May 4, 2022. Accessed May 4, 2022.