Background: Right heart catheterization (RHC) is recommended by guidelines for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, the definition of hemodynamic impairment and responsiveness to drug therapy. However, RHC is an invasive test with associated risk of complications. Noninvasive echocardiographic tools, possibly predictive of pulmonary hypertension at RHC, could be therefore extremely useful.
Methods: Sixty-four consecutive patients with suspected pulmonary hypertension were enrolled in the study and assessed by echocardiography and RHC. Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension was based on mean pulmonary artery pressure (≥25 mmHg) at RHC.
Results: Of 64 consecutive patients enrolled, 77% were diagnosed as having pulmonary hypertension after RHC. On the basis of significant differences between patients with pulmonary hypertension at RHC and those without on echocardiographic assessment, a multiple logistic regression model was constructed to predict the presence of pulmonary hypertension at RHC. The score was calculated using right atrium and ventricular diastolic area, tricuspid regurgitation Vmax, tricuspid regurgitation severity degree and left ventricular ejection fraction. The score area under the curve was therefore 0.786 (P = 0.0001), higher than for tricuspid regurgitation Vmax (P = 0.06). A score value more than 57 was associated with a 93% sensitivity, a 67% specificity, a 91% positive predictive power, a 73% negative predictive power, and an odds ratio 27 (P < 0.001) of pulmonary hypertension at RHC, significant even after correction at multivariable analysis. Accuracy of the prediction model was assessed in a validation cohort with comparable results (P = n.s.).
Conclusion: A simple noninvasive echocardiographic score can be useful in predicting the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension at RHC and may be considered for the selection of patients who should undergo or could avoid RHC.