Clinical Relevance
Pulmonary hypertension is an important complication of COPD, not only because it is highly prevalent, but also because it has critical prognostic significance. Classical studies have established that the presence of PH or clinical features of cor pulmonale are strong predictors of mortality in COPD.[7-9] This contention has been corroborated in patients treated with LTOT, in whom PAP is a better predictor of mortality than airflow or arterial blood gas measurements.[10] In addition to the prognostic significance regarding survival, the presence of PH in COPD is also associated with poorer clinical evolution and more frequent use of healthcare resources.[11] Conceivably, patients with an abnormal pulmonary vascular bed might have lesser functional reserve to overcome the potential complications that occur during exacerbations, therefore requiring hospital admission more frequently. Printer- Friendly Email This
Medscape Pulmonary Medicine. 2007; ©2007 Medscape