RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 COPD and clinical phenotypes: Patients with concomitant pulmonary hypertension may be less likely to be frequent exacerbators
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P3584
VO 44
IS Suppl 58
A1 Sandhya Matthes
A1 Christina Priegnitz
A1 Norbert Anduleit
A1 Winfried J. Randerath
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3584.abstract
AB Background: Concomitant pulmonary hypertension (PH) in COPD is a relevant complication. Screening for PH usually requires right-heart catheterization (RHC). Echocardiography (EC) represents the best non-invasive alternative. Recognition of PH in COPD patients may allow individually targeted therapy.Aim: To establish the prevalence of PH in COPD inpatients and to identify measures characteristic of concomitant PH.Methods: 153 COPD inpatients from September 2011 to September 2013 were examined. They were asked about frequency of exacerbations in the previous 12 months, underwent lung function testing and were assessed for suspected PH by EC. All patients with suspected PH were offered RHC.Results: PH was suspected in 27 patients (17.6%). 15 of those underwent RHC resulting in 12 cases of confirmed PH (7.8%). 61 patients reported having had ≥2 exacerbations in the previous 12 months. 89 reported <2 exacerbations. 3 could not give an answer. The 2 groups of frequent and infrequent exacerbators were comparable in terms of percentage predicted FEV1 (42.7% and 42.2% resp.). PH was suspected in 23 of 89 patients with < 2 exacerbations (10 confirmed by RHC). Only 3 patients with ≥2 exacerbations had suspected PH (2 confirmed by RHC).Conclusion: PH is a known and relevant co-morbidity in COPD. The best way to screen for this condition is not clear. This data from this study – although based on information from history taking – suggests that COPD patients with infrequent exacerbations may be more likely to have concomitant PH. This provides a potential phenotypic characterisation for COPD patients with PH. A long-term prospective study is necessary to confirm this.