Echocardiographic evaluation of the patients with borderline pulmonary hypertension

Objective To analyze and compare the changes of cardiac structure and function in patients with borderline pulmonary hypertension. Methods Echocardiographic data of 617 outpatients from February to October 2018 in Peking University People′s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to the estimated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), the patients were divided into normal group (mPAP<19 mmHg), borderline group (19 mmHg≤mPAP<25 mmHg) and elevated group (mPAP≥25 mmHg). Results ①Compared with normal group，the patients were older in borderline group and elevated group[(39.2±10.1)years old vs (46.5±13.5)years old vs (51.8±14.2)years old，all P<0.001] and the proportions of male were relatively lower (69.9% vs 58.9% vs 54.4%，all P<0.01). The incidences of smoking，drinking and cardiovascular complications increased significantly. ②Compared with normal group，the left atrium[(30.2±8.2)ml/m2 vs (34.5±9.7)ml/m2，P<0.001]，left ventricle[(57.4±11.6)ml/m2 vs (60.6±12.5)ml/m2，P<0.01]and right atrium[(19.5±5.9)ml/m2 vs (22.6±7.0)ml/m2，P<0.001] were enlarged in borderline group.Left ventricular global long-axis strain (GLSLV) increased[(-20.1±2.5)% vs (-21.1±3.1)%，P<0.001]，but the long-axis strain in the middle segment of right ventricular free wall (GLSRVFWmid) decreased[(-31.4±6.6)%对(-27.2±8.8)%，P<0.001] in borderline group.Meanwhile，left ventricular diastolic function was impaired. ③Age，sex，right atrial volume，right ventricular area，RV-S′，GLSLV，GLSRVFWmid and mitral valve E/e′ were independent risk factors for mPAP elevation. Conclusions Early changes of cardiac structure and function exist in the patients with borderline pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiography is critical for the early diagnosis and follow-up monitoring of pulmonary hypertension. Key words: Echocardiography; Pulmonary hypertension; Mean pulmonary artery pressure