Reliable, noninvasive approaches to the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are needed. We tested the hypothesis that the forced vital capacity to diffusing capacity ratio and room air resting pulse oximetry may be combined to predict mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Methods
Sixty-one idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients with available right-heart catheterization were studied. We regressed measured MPAP as a continuous variable on pulse oximetry (SpO2) and percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) to percent-predicted diffusing capacity ratio (% FVC/% DLco) in a multivariable linear regression model.
Results
Linear regression generated the following equation: MPAP=−11.9+0.272×SpO2+0.0659×(100−SpO2)2+3.06×(% FVC/% DLco); adjusted R2=0.55, p<0.0001. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive value of model-predicted pulmonary hypertension were 71% (95% confidence interval (CI): 50–89%), 81% (95% CI: 68–92%), 71% (95% CI: 51–87%) and 81% (95% CI: 68–94%).
Conclusions
A pulmonary hypertension predictor based on room air resting pulse oximetry and FVC to diffusing capacity ratio has a relatively high negative predictive value. However, this model will require external validation before it can be used in clinical practice.
KEYWORDS
Pressure
Pulmonary artery
Hypertension
Pulmonary
Pulmonary fibrosis
Oximetry
Abbreviations
ABG
arterial blood gas
CI
confidence interval
DE
Doppler echocardiography
DLco
diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide
FVC
forced vital capacity
FEV1
forced expiratory volume in 1 s
ILD
interstitial lung disease
IPF
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
IRB
institutional review board
MPAP
mean pulmonary artery pressure
NPV
negative predictive value
PH
pulmonary hypertension
PaO2
arterial blood oxygen tension
PFT
pulmonary function tests
PPV
positive predictive value
RHC
right-heart catheterization
RV
residual volume
RVSP
right ventricular systolic pressure from echocardiography