According to findings of a recent study published in the journal Respirology, in comparison to patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), patients who have Rheumatoid arthritis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (RA PAH) have an older onset age and lower baseline mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP).
A team involving researchers from several hospitals in Toronto, Canada assessed the severity of RA PAH in comparison to the severity of IPAH by evaluating the time to all cause mortality to assess the differences in both disease severity and treatment received.
The recruitment of patients was sought from a research cohort of patients with RA PAH and with IPAH at the University Health Network Pulmonary Hypertension Program in Toronto.
From a total of 1,385 patients that were screened, the researchers identified 18 cases of RA PAH and 155 cases of IPAH. The results revealed that compared to IPAH patients, patients with RA PAH were older at time of disease onset (53,7 years versus 64,0 years, respectively).
The results also showed that compared to patients with IPAH, patients with RA PAH have a lower mPAP (50mm Hg versus 41 mm Hg, respectively). The researchers also identified that compared to patients with IPAH, there is a higher proportion of females with RA PAH (70% verses 83%, respectively). Compared to patients with IPAH, patients with RA PAH were found to have lower median baseline brain natriuretic peptic (95.0 versus 58.4 pg/ mL) and longer baseline 6 minute walk distance (397 m and 440m).
In the study period, the researchers identified 35 deaths: 2 out of 18 of the RA PAH patients (11%), and 33 out of 155 IPAH patients (21%). The team also found that there was a similar unadjusted 1-year survival rate: 93% in the RA PAH group and 94% for IPAH. Nevertheless, it is crucial to understand individualized features of both RA PAH and IPAH for the development of targeted treatments, the prediction of these diseases, and their progression.
“Compared with IPAH patients, RA PAH patients have an older age of onset and lower baseline mPAP,” the authors concluded according to a recent news release. “RA PAH patients have comparable survival to IPAH patients.”
