Background and objective: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and fatal disease. Data from Asia are lacking compared with the West. We aim to describe disease characteristics in an ethnically diverse South-East Asian population and assess predictors for survival.
Methods: We consecutively enrolled patients with PAH referred to our pulmonary hypertension specialty centre from January 2003 to December 2016. Baseline characteristics and survival were analysed. Based on a forward predictor selection procedure, a multi-level structural equation model was applied to identify predictors associated with mortality.
Results: Out of 148 patients enrolled, 77% were females and mean age was 50.8 ± 15.9 years. Racial distribution was consistent with our population census. The most common aetiologies were congenital heart disease-associated PAH (35.8%), idiopathic PAH (29.7%) and then connective tissue disease-associated PAH (24.3%). Most patients presented in World Health Organization (WHO) Functional Class (FC) II (48.6%), followed by FC III (28.8%). Majority of patients (54.1%) were on phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor monotherapy. Survival rates were 85.8% at the end of the first year, 70.9% at 3 years, 66.9% at 5 years, 61.5% at 7 years and 55.4% at 10 years. The Registry to Evaluate Early And Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) score (RS) was found to be the best predictor of mortality. A score > 6 was identified as a cut-off. Other predictors include mean right atrial pressure, heart rate, aetiology, age and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide.
Conclusion: In this first registry study from a South-East Asian population, our survival rates are comparable with other national registries. The RS is validated in our population to be a good predictor of mortality.
Keywords: Asian population; pulmonary hypertension; registries; risk factors; survival.
© 2018 Asian Pacific Society of Respirology.