PULMONARY HYPERTENSION IN PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS BY USING ECHO CARDIOGRAPHY

Abstract

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary hypertension has been linked to significantly worse outcomes in

patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, who frequently experience confusion in their treatment.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a type of undiagnosed, progressive, chronic, fibrosing interstitial

pneumonia that primarily affects older people. Right heart failure, reduced exercise capacity, and death

are the outcomes of pulmonary hypertension, a group of destructive diseases. OBJECTIVE: Using a

non-invasive technique called echocardiography, This study sought to determine the prevalence of

pulmonary hypertension in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. METHODOLOGY: This

descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center in Karachi's

department of chest medicine, among 96 patients of aged 50-70 years. Patients with idiopathic

pulmonary fibrosis of either gender were included. Patients were selected through non-probability

purposive sampling. All the included patients were assessed for pulmonary hypertension echo

cardiography under the supervision of consultant having > 5 years of experience. All the collected

information was entered into the predesigned proforma. RESULTS: Mean age and duration of

pulmonary hypertension were 62.36±6.16 years and 3.94±0.49 months respectively. Majority of the

patients were female. The frequency of Pulmonary hypertension was found to be 38 (40%) in patients

with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSION It is concluded that frequency of pulmonary

hypertension is moderate. Evaluation of the presence of PH in patients with IPF may be helpful in

determining the progression and prognosis of the disease. Echocardiography is non-invasive and less

expensive method to detect pulmonary hypertension.