Hachulla E1, Clerson P1, Airò P1, Cuomo G1, Allanore Y1, Caramaschi P1, Rosato E1, Carreira PE1, Riccieri V1, Sarraco M1, Denton CP1, Riemekasten G1, Pozzi MR1, Zeni S1, Mihai CM1, Ullman S1, Distler O1, Rednic S1, Smith V1, Walker UA1, Matucci-Cerinic M1, Müller-Ladner U1, Launay D1; EUSTAR co-workers.
ABSTRACT:
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) estimated by echocardiography in the multinational European League Against Rheumatism Scleroderma Trial and Research (EUSTAR) cohort.
METHODS:
Data for patients with echocardiography documented between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2011 were extracted from the EUSTAR database. Stepwise forward multivariable statistical Cox pulmonary hypertension analysis was used to examine the independent effect on survival of selected variables.
RESULTS:
Based on our selection criteria, 1476 patients were included in the analysis; 87% of patients were female, with a mean age of 56.3 years (s.d. 13.5) and 31% had diffuse SSc. The mean duration of follow-up was 2.0 years (s.d. 1.2, median 1.9). Taking index sPAP of <30 mmHg as reference, the hazard ratio (HR) for death was 1.67 (95% CI 0.92, 2.96) if the index sPAP was between 30 and 36 mmHg, 2.37 (95% CI 1.14, 4.93) for sPAP between 36 and 40 mmHg, 3.72 (95% CI 1.61, 8.60) for sPAP between 40 and 50 mmHg and 9.75 (95% CI 4.98, 19.09) if sPAP was >50 mmHg. In a multivariable Cox model, sPAP and the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were independently associated with the risk of death [HR 1.833 (95% CI 1.035, 3.247) and HR 0.973 (95% CI 0.955, 0.991), respectively]. sPAP was an independent risk factor for death with a HR of 3.02 (95% CI 1.91, 4.78) for sPAP ≥36 mmHg.
CONCLUSION:
An estimated sPAP >36 mmHg at baseline echocardiography was significantly and independently associated with reduced survival, regardless of the presence of pulmonary hypertension based on right heart catheterization.
© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology.
KEYWORDS:
pulmonary hypertension; survival; systemic sclerosis; systolic pulmonary arterial pressure; tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity
