Prevalence and Presentation of Pulmonary Hypertension Among COPD Patients in Port Sudan Teaching Hospital

Background: Pulmonary hypertension is a critical medical problem that result in significant morbidity and mortality and it defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP >20 mmHg) at rest. Pulmonary hypertension classified into 5 groups these are: Pulmonary arterial hypertension, Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease, Pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease, Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and Pulmonary hypertension with unclear or multifactorial causes. COPD is define as a heterogeneous lung condition characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, sputum production and/or exacerbation) due to abnormalities of the airways (bronchitis, bronchiolitis) and/or alveoli (emphysema) that cause persistent and often progressive, airflow obstruction. COPD represent a major cause of pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease and both COPD and pulmonary hypertension are underestimated in the study area; therefore, this study aims to cover this area.

Objective: To assess the frequency and clinical presentation of pulmonary hypertension in patients with COPD.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted in Port Sudan teaching hospital, Red Sea state, Sudan from January 2024 to April 2024, all patients diagnosed with COPDs attended the chest referral clinic were included in this study. Data collected through questionnaire, echocardiogram and spirometry study done for all patients and data analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.

Results: 48 patients who diagnosed with COPD are participate in this study,5 (10.41) have mild COPD, 14(29.17%) have moderate COPD, 26(54.17) have severe COPD 3 (6.25%) very severe COPD. the mean age of 52.2 ± 12.4 years, 32 males and 16 females with male: female ratio 2:1. 14 patients (29.2%) have pulmonary hypertension, 8 (57.14%) of them have mild pulmonary hypertension (mPAP 25 – 34 mmHg), 4(28.57%) have moderate (Mpap35- 44 mmHg) and just 2 (14.29%) have severe pulmonary hypertensions (mPAP >45mmHG), 16(33.3%) complicated with heart failure.

Conclusion: Our study concluded that the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension among patients with COPD in the study area is 29.2% which is significant and need more care through special pulmonary hypertension center and it shows that the develops of pulmonary hypertension in COPD didn’t always compatible with the severity of COPD.