People with pulmonary hypertension (PH) who were diagnosed with COVID-19 had a high rate of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality, a French study concluded. Risk factors for adverse outcomes included being older, male, having co-existing conditions, or comorbidities, and having more severe PH. Anticoagulants (blood thinners) were the only treatment…

The gut microbiota of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) differs from that of healthy individuals, and this perhaps explains why there also is more inflammation, a Japanese study found. The findings provide new information on the way CTEPH may develop. The study, “Altered gut microbiota and…

Nearly a third of individuals with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) live with mental health disorders that impair their overall quality of life, a study in Germany has found. The significant impact of panic disorder, major depression, and other mental disorders on life quality suggests that adequate screening tools…

Depression and anxiety are common in people with pulmonary hypertension (PH), especially for those living in Asia, a review of 24 studies involving 2,161 participants has found. Researchers noted that “increased awareness amongst physicians regarding the vulnerability of PH patients to psychiatric conditions is key,” and that the “findings…

Metabolic differences affecting energy production were observed in endothelial cells — the cells that line blood vessels — from patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). These distinctions could underlie differences in disease mechanisms and necessary treatment approaches, according to a recent study.

Increased lung arterial obstruction is significantly associated with greater airflow obstruction in people with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and without a smoking history, a study shows. Notably, airflow obstruction, reflected by a reduced ability to exhale quickly, was lessened with reduced arterial obstruction and improved blood flow following…

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) quickly and significantly improved blood flow dynamics and right-sided heart function in people with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), with the surgery’s benefits sustained over the long term, a small study shows. Notably, right ventricular (RV) free wall strain, an indirect and non-invasive measure of…

Adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who have trouble breathing at rest or with light activity may benefit from a procedure called respiratory rate modulation, a pilot, single-center study shows. The three-month procedure also led to lower symptom severity and decreased respiratory…

People with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) have significantly worse quality of life at their initial assessment, and higher hospitalization rates over time, relative to idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients, according to a multicenter study in the U.S. Notably, these quality-of-life differences disappeared over time, and CTEPH…

November is Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Awareness Month, when patients, caregivers, family members, and friends will come together virtually and in person to drive public recognition of the chronic heart and lung disease. The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA), the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to PH, is hosting a…

Oxygen therapy may help relieve lung pressure in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who are about to undergo balloon pulmonary angioplasty, a procedure in which balloons are used to open blood vessels that have been chronically narrowed or blocked, according to a new study. Researchers found a decrease…

Using a healthcare cost model, researchers in the Netherlands found that an early diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) leads to substantial life expectancy and quality of life benefits at an “acceptable” price. Although greater healthcare costs were associated with an earlier diagnosis — primarily due to the…