Prevalence of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients Attending Echocardiolgy Clinic in the Eastern Part of Libya

Abstract

SESSION TITLE: Pulmonary Hypertension Posters IISESSION TYPE: Poster PresentationsPRESENTED ON: Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:15 PM - 02:15 PMPURPOSE: Pulmonary hypertension[PH] is an overlooked condition with serious outcome. The exact prevalence of the disease remains unknown in many countries. We wanted to assess the prevalence of PH in patient referred to cardiology outpatient echo clinic of Benghazi Medical Centre (BMC)METHODS: Doppler echo cardiography reports, performed by experienced cardiologist, of adult patients referred to cardiology outpatients of BMC (serving secondary and tertiary level of medical service) in the period between January 2010 and March 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data and available medical information including co-morbidities were obtained. PH was considered possible when tricuspid regurgitation velocity > 2.8 m.s -1, PA systolic pressure > 36 mmHg with or without additional echo-cardiographic variables suggestive of PH (Galie et al 2009). Evidence of any further action taken for patients with possible PH was noted. RESULTS: 645 patient reports were reviewed. 23 patients (3.5%) had criteria consistent with possible PH. 11 out of 23 (48 %) patients were males. The mean estimated pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PAP) was 53.7mmHg. 2 out of 23 (8%) patients had chronic pulmonary disease, 6 (25%) had ischaemic heart disease and the others had no specified diagnosis. When softer echo-cardiographic criteria were used for possible PH (tricuspid regurgitation velocity 25 and