Interaction between pulmonary hypertension and diastolic dysfunction in an elderly heart failure population

Pulmonary Hypertension Is Associated With Systemic Arterial Hypertension Among Patients With Normal Left Ventricular Diastolic Function

Background

The association of pulmonary and systemic arterial hypertension is believed to be mediated through hypertensive left heart disease. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is associated with systemic arterial hypertension among patients with apparently normal left ventricular diastolic function.

Methods and Results

Consecutive patients who had echocardiographic evaluation between 2007 and 2019 were enrolled. Patients with disease states that are known to be associated with PHT, including diastolic dysfunction, were excluded from the analysis. Estimated right ventricular systolic pressure was extracted for all patients from the echocardiographic reports. PHT was defined as estimated right ventricular systolic pressure >40 mm Hg. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied. Final study population included 25 916 patients with a median age of 59 (interquartile range, 44–69) years, of whom 12 501 (48%) were men and 13 265 (51%) had systemic arterial hypertension. Compared with normotensive patients, hypertensive patients were 3.2 times more likely to have PHT (95% CI, 2.91–3.53; P<0.001). A multivariate model adjusted for clinical and echocardiographic parameters that are known to be associated with PHT demonstrated that hypertensive patients are almost 3 times more likely to have PHT (95% CI, 2.45–3.15; P<0.001). The association was significant in multiple subgroups but was more significant among women compared with men (odds ratio, 3.1 versus 2.4; P for interaction <0.001).

Conclusions

PHT is associated with systemic arterial hypertension irrespective of left heart disease. The association is more pronounced among women.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Heart Failure Patients: Pathophysiology and Prognostic Implications

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to left heart disease (LHD), i.e., group 2 PH, is the most common reason for increased pressures in the pulmonary circuit. Although recent guidelines incorporate congenital heart disease in this classification, left-sided heart diseases of diastolic and systolic origin including valvular etiology are the vast majority. In these patients, an increased left-sided filling pressure triggers a multistage hemodynamic evolution that ends into right ventricular failure through an initial passive increase in pulmonary artery pressure complicated over time by pulmonary vasoconstriction, endothelial dysfunction, and remodeling of the small-resistance pulmonary arteries. Regardless of the underlying left heart pathology, when present, PH-LHD is associated with more severe symptoms, worse exercise tolerance, and outcome, especially when right ventricular dysfunction and failure are part of the picture. Compared with group 1 and other forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension, PH-LHD is more often seen in elderly patients with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities and most, if not all, of the features of metabolic syndrome, especially in case of HF preserved ejection fraction. In this review, we provide an update on current knowledge and some potential challenges about the pathophysiology and established prognostic implications of group 2 PH in patients with HF of either preserved or reduced ejection fraction.

Echocardiographic pulmonary artery pressure estimation and heart failure rehospitalization burden in patients with acute heart failure

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a strong predictor of mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the relationship between PH, through echocardiographic pulmonary artery pressure (PASP) estimation, and the risk of HF rehospitalizations remains unclear.

METHODS

We prospectively included 2343 consecutive patients discharged for acute heart failure (AHF). PH was estimated by echocardiography through PASP determination during the index admission. Patients were categorized as follows across PASP: non-measurable, normal (≤35mmHg), mild (36-45mmHg), moderate (46-60mmHg), or severe PH (>60mmHg). Negative binomial regression method was used to evaluate the association between PASP and recurrent HF hospitalizations across preserved (HFpEF: ≥50%), mid-range (HFmrEF: 40-49%) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF: <40%).

RESULTS

Mean age of the cohort was 72.8±11.2years, 1187 (50.5%) were women, and 1252 (53.4%) and 410 (17.5%) showed HFpEF and HFmrEF, respectively. At a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 2.3 (0.8-4.5) years, we registered 1114 (47.6%) deaths, and 1834 HF-related rehospitalizations in 943 (40.2%) patients. After multivariable adjustment, and compared to patients with normal PASP, severe PH exhibited an independent higher risk of recurrent HF admissions only in HFpEF (IRR=1.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.16-2.38; p=0.005), whereas in HFmrEF patients there was a non-significant trend to higher HF readmissions (IRR: 1.73; 95% CI, 0.85-3.55; p=0.132). Severe PH was not related with recurrent hospitalizations in HFrEF (IRR: 1.19; 95% CI, 0.66-2.14; p=0.553).

CONCLUSIONS

Echocardiography-derived PASP evaluated during an episode of AHF is related to HF readmission burden, particularly in those patients with HFpEF.

Left ventricular heart failure and pulmonary hypertension

In patients with left ventricular heart failure (HF), the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction are frequent and have important impact on disease progression, morbidity, and mortality, and therefore warrant clinical attention. Pulmonary hypertension related to left heart disease (LHD) by far represents the most common form of PH, accounting for 65-80% of cases. The proper distinction between pulmonary arterial hypertension and PH-LHD may be challenging, yet it has direct therapeutic consequences. Despite recent advances in the pathophysiological understanding and clinical assessment, and adjustments in the haemodynamic definitions and classification of PH-LHD, the haemodynamic interrelations in combined post- and pre-capillary PH are complex, definitions and prognostic significance of haemodynamic variables characterizing the degree of pre-capillary PH in LHD remain suboptimal, and there are currently no evidence-based recommendations for the management of PH-LHD. Here, we highlight the prevalence and significance of PH and RV dysfunction in patients with both HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and provide insights into the complex pathophysiology of cardiopulmonary interaction in LHD, which may lead to the evolution from a 'left ventricular phenotype' to a 'right ventricular phenotype' across the natural history of HF. Furthermore, we propose to better define the individual phenotype of PH by integrating the clinical context, non-invasive assessment, and invasive haemodynamic variables in a structured diagnostic work-up. Finally, we challenge current definitions and diagnostic short falls, and discuss gaps in evidence, therapeutic options and the necessity for future developments in this context.

Two-dimensional echocardiography in the assessment of long-term prognosis in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between cardiac diastolic dysfunction and outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and to clarify the potential effect of two-dimensional echocardiography (2D-echo) on prognostic value in patients with PAH.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with PAH (as WSPH (World Symposia on Pulmonary Hypertension) classification I) confirmed by right heart catheterization (RHC), received targeted monotherapy or combination therapy. 2D-echo parameters, World Health Organization (WHO) functional classification and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) were recorded. The clinical prognosis of patients was assessed by the correlation between echo parameters and clinical 6MWD using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight patients were included. Left and right ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD and RVDD) scores measured by 2D-echo had good correlation with 6MWD at baseline (rLVDD  = -0.699; rRVDD  = -0.818, both P < 0.001) and at last follow-up (rLVDD  = -0.701; rRVDD  = -0.666, both P<0.001). Furthermore, bi-ventricular (LVDD + RVDD) scores measured by 2D-echo had a better correlation with 6MWD at baseline and last follow-up (r =  0.831; r = -0.771, both P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curves (AUCs) for LVDD score, RVDD score and (LVDD + RVDD) scores were 0.823 (P < 0.0001), 0.737 (P = 0.0002), and 0.825 (P < 0.0001), respectively. Compared with ROC analysis of other single parameters, cardiac diastolic function score was more accurate in predicting survival in patients with PAH.

CONCLUSION

LVDD score, RVDD score and (LVDD + RVDD) scores yielded a comprehensive quantitative assessment of LV and RV diastolic function that correlated moderately with clinical functional parameters and might be useful in the assessment of PAH.

Pathophysiology and clinical relevance of pulmonary remodelling in pulmonary hypertension due to left heart diseases

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in left heart disease, classified as group II, is the most common form of PH that occurs in approximately 60% of cases of reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Although relatively much is known about hemodynamic stages (passive or reactive) and their consequences on the right ventricle (RV) there is no consensus on the best hemodynamic definition of group II PH. In addition, the main pathways that lead to lung capillary injury and impaired biology of small artery remodelling processes are largely unknown. Typical lung manifestations of an increased pulmonary pressure and progressive RV-pulmonary circulation uncoupling are an abnormal alveolar capillary gas diffusion, impaired lung mechanics (restriction), and exercise ventilation inefficiency. Of several classes of pulmonary vasodilators currently clinically available, oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition, because of its strong selectivity for targeting the cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway in the pulmonary circulation, is increasingly emerging as an attractive opportunity to reach hemodynamic benefits, reverse capillary injury, and RV remodelling, and improve functional capacity. Guanylate cyclase stimulators offer an additional intriguing opportunity but the lack of selectivity and systemic effects might preclude some of the anticipated benefits on the pulmonary circulation. Future trials will determine whether new routes of pharmacologic strategy aimed at targeting lung structural and vascular remodelling might affect morbidity and mortality in left heart disease populations. We believe that this therapeutic goal rather than a pure hemodynamic effect might ultimately emerge as an important challenge for the clinician.