Abstract
Background
Recent registries describe a significant prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in the elderly, but little is known of their characteristics. We aimed to examine the features and prognostic factors of long-term survival in elderly (≥65 years) PAH patients.
Methods
Clinical, echocardiographic, angiographic, hemodynamic, treatments, and survival data were reviewed in consecutive patients over the course of 20 years. Elderly PAH patients (n = 47) were compared to younger PAH patients (n = 107).
Results
At presentation, elderly patients were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, coronary disease, and PAH associated with scleroderma (42.6 vs. 24.3 %; p = 0.02) than younger patients. Prior to PAH therapy, elderly patients had better right ventricular myocardial performance index (RV-MPI; 0.48 ± 0.20 vs. 0.62 ± 0.23, p = 0.006) and lower mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP; 45.0 ± 11.1 vs. 49.2 ± 11.8 mmHg, p = 0.04). Elderly patients were treated less often with epoprostenol (8.5 vs. 29 %, p = 0.006) or trepostinil (8.5 vs. 23.4 %, p = 0.04). The 1, 3, and 5 year survival rates of elderly patients were estimated to be 76.4, 50.5, and 37.6 %, respectively. In comparison, younger patients had survival estimates of 92.2, 74.2 and 64.0 % (p = 0.002). Baseline right atrial pressure, mean PAP, cardiac index, and RV-MPI were associated with survival in elderly patients; however in these patients, survival was not affected by any PAH subgroup or age (per year) by itself.
Conclusions
The diagnosis of PAH in elderly patients is associated with poorer survival which is in part explained by a greater vulnerability to the hemodynamic disturbances of PAH.
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported in part by the Bank of Montreal Center for the Study of Heart Disease in Women at the Jewish General Hospital and the Demitrios Banousis Family Foundation. Dr. Shimony was supported by the Azrieli Foundation and by a Susan Raymer Cardiology Fellowship Grant. Dr. Fox was supported in part by the William Pencer Family Foundation.
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Shimony, A., Fox, B.D., Afilalo, J. et al. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in the Elderly-Clinical Characteristics and Long-Term Survival. Lung 190, 645–649 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-012-9425-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-012-9425-5