OPA7 CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PULMONARY HYPERTENSION PATIENTS IN A MALAYSIAN POPULATION: A 5 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE SINGLE CENTER STUDY

Nadiah Saqiinah Abd Jalil, Fatimah Azmah Mohamad, Lee Chiou Perng, Jamalul Azizi Abdul Rahman
Hospital Sultan Idris Shah Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Introduction

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined by a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) >20 mmHg at rest. PH is a rare and progressive disease which causes significant morbidity and mortality. Several Asian countries have published PH registry data however data on the adult Malaysian population has been scarce.

Objective

This study aimed to analyze patient characteristics of patients diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and referred to a pulmonary hypertension specialist clinic in Malaysia.

Methodology 

We conducted a retrospective observational analysis of all adult patients referred to the Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic, Respiratory Department, Hospital Sultan Idris Shah from 1 Jan 2019 to 1 Jan 2024. 

Results

A total of 93 patients were enrolled. The mean age at diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension was 41 years old. Most patients presented with WHO functional class II (51.6%) with a mean six minute walk distance (6MWD) of 271 m. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was the most prevalent group (66.7%); followed by group 4 PH (16.1%); group 3 PH (11.8%) and group 2 PH (5.4%). A majority (77%) of our cohort had undergone right heart catheterisation with  a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 56 mmHg. Among the PAH patients, 66% were on combination PAH specific therapy at the last clinic visit with 24% on monotherapy and 10% of patients were not on any treatment.

Conclusion

PAH was the most prevalent group (66.7%) Most of the patients in this cohort had undergone a RHC and were on combination therapy (66%) which are in line with latest guidelines. Further prospective studies in this field are warranted.