Retrospective evaluation of patients diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in the Lakes Region

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an important health problem that is characterized by increased pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), has a high risk of mortality, and can affect all age groups. Our study is the first national registry study on PH patients in the Lakes Region. The aim of our study is to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who have been followed up with the diagnosis of PH at Süleyman Demirel University Research and Application Hospital since 2006, as well as their survival and the effects of the treatments they receive on survival. 250 patients diagnosed in our hospital between October 2006 and October 2023 were retrospectively scanned. Patients' gender, age at diagnosis, symptoms, laboratory data, World Health Organization-Functional Classes (WHO-FC) at diagnosis, echocardiography (ECO) findings, right heart catheterization (RHC) results, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), respiratory function tests,vpulmonary artery (PA) diameters, PH groups, PH treatments they received were recorded, and their survival. In our study, 84.8% of the patients were female (n=162), 35.2% were male (n=88), and their average age was 61.90±14.83 years. The most common symptom seen in patients was shortness of breath. At diagnosis, most of the patients were in FC 1 and 2. It was observed that most of the patients were in the Group Ⅰ PAH group (42.8%). When looking at PAH subgroups; Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (40%) was predominant. It was observed that the PAP values of the patients measured by ECO were in the range of 40-60 mmHg, and the average pulmonary artery (PA) diameter was 35 mm. In addition, a significant relationship was found between systolic PAP and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) values measured on RHC and both PA diameters and EKO's PAP values. The average survival rate of the patient population was 85.2% in men and 88.3% in women. It was concluded from our study that PH should be suspected in female patients with persistent shortness of breath, and that RHC should be performed on suspicion of PH in patients with PAP values of 40 mmHg and above on ECO and main PA diameters of 30 mm and above on CT. It was predicted that early diagnosis and early initiation of ERA and PDE5i or riociguat combination treatments in patients with indications could reduce mortality. Keywords: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Pulmonary Hypertension, Pulmonary Hypertension groups, Pulmonary Hypertension treatment, survival in Pulmonary Hypertension