Prevalence of Pulmonary Hypertension (PHT) in Iran: A Systematic Review

Methods: This systematic review is performed according to PRISMA guideline. An electronic search in Pubmed, Scopus and, SID were conducted on ۴/۲/۲۰۱۹ based on related keywords. Titles, abstracts and full texts of results were screened and data from included papers were extracted.Results: Most of the articles reported PHT prevalence in hemodialysis patients, varied ۲۲% to ۶۶% however most of them reported it more than ۵۰%. PHT was more prevalent in hemodialysis and diabetic patients compared to peritoneal and non-diabetic patients, respectively. Patients with PHT had lower serum albumin, Hemoglobin and ejection fraction and PHT was related with longer dialysis period. PHT in thalassemia patients was reported in other articles frequently too. PHT prevalence was ۴.۵% in thalassemia major and ۲۳.۵% and ۲۴% in two studies in thalassemia intermedia patients. In a study, ۱۳.۷% of patients with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had severe PHT and in another study, ۹.۵% of tuberculosis patients had PHT which correlated with higher rates of mortality. Prevalence of PHT was reported for patients with cirrhosis (۶.۱%), heart failure (۴۹.۳%), cystic fibrosis (۳۲.۸%), Interstitial Lung Disease (۶۵%), primary antibody deficiencies (۳۳%), scleroderma (۱۳.۹%), HIV (۴%), sarcoidosis (۲۶%), dyspnea in pregnancy (۱۲%) and systemic sclerosis (۸.۲%). One study investigated the prevalence of PHT between Isfahan steel industry workers (۱۲%) and one article reported results of Iranian PHT registry; One hundred and sixteen PHT cases were registered between ۲۰۰۹ and ۲۰۱۵ with the mean ۶۹.۲۴±۱۷ mmHg pulmonary arterial pressure (range: ۳۵-۱۱۰ mmHg).Conclusion: PHT is prevalent in hemodialysis, thalassemia intermedia, and heart failure patients and is associated with a higher rate of mortality. Screening for PHT is necessary in these patients

Keywords:

Pulmonary Hypertension , Prevalence , Iran