Clinical and echocardiographic correlates of pulmonary hypertension among heart failure patients in Lagos, south-western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is very prevalent among heart failure (HF) subjects and is now recognised as an independent predictor of poor prognosis. There is a paucity of data in our environment about the frequency and correlates of PH in HF. We aimed to determine the frequency of PH in HF patients in an academic hospital and assess its correlates using echocardiography.

METHODS

A total of 219 heart failure patients in NYHA functional class II to IV, and without co-morbidities that could cause PH, were consecutively recruited. Demographic, clinical and echocardiographic data were obtained from all subjects.

RESULTS

The frequency of PH was 38.8%, using an estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) cut-off value of > 36 mmHg. HF subjects with PH tended to be male with a worse NYHA functional class compared with subjects without PH. HF subjects with PH also had significantly higher left ventricular (LV) filling pressures (higher left atrial volume index and E/e' ratio), more severe mitral regurgitation (MR), poorer LV systolic function, and worse parameters of right ventricular (RV) structure and function compared with those without PH. Echocardiographic variables that correlated significantly with PASP include LV filling pressures (p < 0.001 for all), mitral regurgitant volume (r = 0.269, p < 0.001) and LV ejection fraction (r = -0.239, p > 0.001). On multivariate analysis, the left atrial volume index and E/e' ratio were independently associated with PASP.

CONCLUSIONS

PH is common among HF subjects in our environment and is associated with higher LV filling pressure, more severe MR, poorer LV systolic function and worse RV remodelling. Routine screening for PH among HF patients is recommended for better risk stratification and management.